A BIG-hearted Donegal
farmer has donated an 11-acre site to a new
community group aiming to provide breast cancer
screening for the people of the North West.
Deirdre Grant of the recently-established North West
Wellness Centre Committee (NWWCC) told
InishowenNews.com yesterday that the donor wished to
remain anonymous. The location of the site will also
remain undisclosed until plans for the centre are
formalised.
"There are two phases to our plan. The first is to
raise €500,000 for a mammography unit to provide a
high level of breast screening with triple
assessment for the people of the North West.
"This will be done in association with a clinic in
Pennsylvania which would allow for mammograms to be
read within 24 hours."
Ms. Grant said phase two was, by far, the biggest
undertaking and provided for the construction of a
state-of-the-art cancer clinic with the most modern
diagnostic equipment on the 11-acre site.
"It's a perfect location with very good access for
people in the region," added Ms. Grant.
Currently, BreastCheck is not available in the
region and it only screens people between the ages
of 50 and 64. Donegal women have to travel to the
North for private screening.
The NWWCC kicked off its fundraising activities on
Monday evening with a unique 'Not the Rose of Tralee'
gala fashion show at the Clanree Hotel in
Letterkenny.
Among the stars on the night were Daniel O'Donnell
who stripped to the waist for the fun evening,
giving the women in the audience an unexpected
surprise.
Meanwhile, local T.D., Dr. Jim McDaid added to the
spectacle when he took to the catwalk wearing a
diving suit and flippers.
More than 700 people attended the gala which raised
a gross amount of €15,500 for the project. |
