ACTION CANCER’S MOTHER’S DAY WALK IS A REAL FAMILY AFFAIR
‘Walk with her, walk to remember her’
Action Cancer’s much-loved Mother’s Day 5K Walk returns to the beautiful surrounds of Lurgan Park on Saturday 14 March 2026. The event welcomes anyone wishing to come together with family and friends ahead of Mothering Sunday, offering a chance to spend time in a peaceful, reflective setting, walking with loved ones or in memory of those who are no longer here.
This 5K walk, supported by local company Country Kitchen, is organised by the Action Cancer Lurgan Fundraising Group. All money raised will support Action Cancer which includes the continued delivery of its therapeutic and support services currently available in Lurgan and the surrounding area.
Action Cancer supporter Helena Blair has taken part in the Mother’s Day Walk for a number of years, and it has now become a cherished family tradition. Each spring, she is joined by her daughters and granddaughters, with three generations walking side by side, creating new memories while reflecting on why supporting Action Cancer’s work matters so deeply to their family.
Helena was diagnosed a year and a half ago with Polycythaemia Vera (PV), a rare form of blood cancer. While Helena herself has not used Action Cancer’s services, her daughters Nikki and Sally are regular users of the charity’s breast screening service, attending appointments both at Action Cancer House and onboard the Big Bus when it visits the local area.
Local Action Cancer supporter, Helena Blair from Dollingstown, said:
“Taking part in the Lurgan Mother’s Day Walk for Action Cancer means so much to me. I’m walking alongside my daughters, Sally and Nikki, from Moira, and with my granddaughters Emma and Lily, and that makes it incredibly special.
“Cancer affects so many families, including our own, and the work Action Cancer does, particularly through its screening services, is absolutely vital. Early detection can save lives, and those services will be just as important for my granddaughters’ generation in the future. Walking together as three generations is my way of supporting that life-saving work and helping to protect the health of families in our community for years to come.”
Early Bird registration is now open at £10 per adult (general registration is £15), with children under 16 free. Once registered, walkers will receive an information pack, sponsor form and fundraising materials. Participants are encouraged, where possible, to raise £120 in sponsorship, which will cover the cost of a breast screening for a local woman.
Registration will also be available on the day from 11am at the Tennis Pavilion in Lurgan Park. After completing the walk, participants will enjoy a hot refreshment and a sweet treat provided by Rapid Relief UK and receive a commemorative medal.
Eleanor Hamilton, who leads the Lurgan Action Cancer Community Group, said:
“Since the walk began in 2019 it has grown year after year, and last year’s event was our biggest yet. The atmosphere is always incredible. Families walking together, sharing stories, celebrating the mums and women in their lives and remembering those no longer with them. It’s a real feel-good day.
“As a fundraising event, it makes a huge difference too. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, we raised an amazing £2,500 in 2025, and we’re hoping to go even further in 2026. Every pound raised stays in Northern Ireland and supports vital breast screening, support and therapeutic services for people in Lurgan and across the region.
“Over the past five years, the Big Bus has visited the ABC Council area more than 120 times, delivering breast screenings, skin cancer checks and Health MOTs to hundreds of local people. None of this would be possible without public support, so we’re encouraging as many people as we can to join us this year.”
Cancer is one of the most pressing health challenges facing Northern Ireland today, with diagnoses rising by more than half over the past 25 years and projections showing cases could double by 2040 if current trends continue. While survival rates are improving, far too many people are still being diagnosed late, and uptake of vital screening programmes remains uneven across communities. With around four in ten cancers considered preventable, the need for accessible education, early detection, and support has never been greater. Action Cancer stands at the forefront of this effort, delivering life‑saving prevention, detection, and therapeutic services that are unique within Northern Ireland and free to those who need them most.
Action Cancer’s comprehensive range of cancer detection, prevention and support services, cost £4 million annually to deliver. Every year Action Cancer, through the support of public donations, helps to save and support 15,000 people face-to-face across Northern Ireland through the delivery of its services.
Its unique breast screening service is offered to women aged 40–49 and over 70, those outside the NHS screening programme.
The charity also provides counselling and complementary therapies for anyone living with cancer or supporting a loved one, available to adults and children from the age of five.
Action Cancer’s offering also includes; acupuncture, scar therapy, yoga, one-to-one and group life coaching, and educational events. Its Health Promotion programme delivers practical guidance on reducing cancer risk through lifestyle choices, alongside M.O.T. health checks as well as running nutrition and exercise programmes for people affected by cancer. Action Cancer also offers a skin cancer detection service.
Services are delivered at Action Cancer House in Belfast, selected regional venues including Mount Zion House in Lurgan, and onboard the Action Cancer Big Bus, (supported by SuperValu and Centra).
Anyone affected by cancer who wishes to book an appointment can do so at www.actioncancer.org or by calling 028 9080 3344.
EVENT DETAILS
Action Cancer’s Mother’s Day Walk, Saturday 14 March 2026
Lurgan Park, Windsor Avenue
On-the-day registration: 11am
Walk begins: 12noon
