Mayor Uí Niallais announces Hive Cancer Support as chosen charity
1 July 2026
Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, has announced Hive Cancer Support as her chosen charity for her year in office.
Throughout her mayoral term, Councillor Uí Niallais will lead a programme of fundraising initiatives and events in support of the local charity, helping to raise vital funds and awareness for the invaluable services they provide to individuals and families affected by cancer across the North West.
Founded in 2005 as the Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group, Hive Cancer Support has grown significantly and now provides a wide range of support services to women, men, children, families and carers affected by the disease.
As well as offering personalised, holistic support to those living with a cancer diagnosis, the charity delivers cancer awareness and prevention workshops throughout the Derry, Strabane and wider North West area.
Speaking at a launch event in the Guildhall this week, Mayor Uí Niallais praised the critical community role the charity plays.
“It is a genuine honour to select Hive Cancer Support as my chosen charity for the year ahead,” she said. “The organisation provides a lifeline to so many people and families across our City and District who are navigating the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
“Their compassionate, person-centred approach and commitment to raising awareness of cancer prevention and early detection make a real difference in our community.
“I look forward to working alongside the team at Hive throughout my mayoral year and hope the public will support the fundraising events we have planned.
“Together, we can help ensure the charity continues its outstanding work for everyone who needs it.”
A street collection took place for the charity during last week’s Foyle Maritime Festival and further collections are planned for the Mayor’s Tea Dances, the Waterside Half Marathon, Halloween, the Christmas Light Switch On and the Jazz Festival.
A number of innovative fundraising initiatives are being planned for Mayor Uí Niallais’ year in office with full details to be announced at a later date.
Maureen Collins, Project Manager at Hive Cancer Support, said being selected as the Mayor’s Chosen Charity represented a ‘dream come true’ for their organisation.
“Like all community-based charities, the last year has presented us with huge funding challenges.
“Thankfully, in recent months we have received new funding to secure our services for another year.
“But it’s been a difficult time for our members, board of directors and staff and some of our highly valued team have moved on to new roles outside the organisation.
“So to become the Mayor’s Chosen Charity has given us such a boost and feels like a dream come true.
“The money raised will help us continue to support all those affected by a cancer diagnosis with personalised, holistic care and to raise awareness of cancer detection and prevention through our unique educational workshops.
“It will also boost our already strong public profile so local people know we are here and that they don’t have to face their cancer journey alone.”
You can stay up to date with all of the Mayor’s fundraising initiatives throughout the year at www.derrystrabane.com/mayor where there is also a link available to donate.
Details of future fundraising events will also be shared on the Mayor’s social media channels on Facebook and X.
Preaseisiúint
Fógraíonn Méara Uí Niallais Hive Cancer Support mar a carthanacht roghnaithe
Dé Céadaoin 1 Iúil 2026
Tá sé fógartha ag Méara Dhoire agus an tSratha Báin, an Comhairleoir Grace Uí Niallais, gurb í Hive Cancer Support a carthanacht roghnaithe dá bliain mar Mhéara.
I rith a téarma mar Mhéara, cuirfidh an Comhairleoir Uí Niallais clár tograí agus imeachtaí tiomsaithe airgid ar siúl le tacú leis an charthanacht aitiúil, a chuideoidh le hairgead ríthábhachtach a bhailiú agus feasacht a ardú ar na seirbhísí luachmhara a chuireann siad ar fáil do dhaoine agus do theaghlaigh atá buailte ag aisle fud fad an Iarthuaiscirt.
Bunaíodh Hive Cancer Support sa bhliain 2005 faoin ainm Pink Ladies Cancer Group agus tá fás suntasach tagtha uirthi ó shin. Cuireann an eagraíocht réimse leathan seirbhísí tacaíochta ar fáil anois do mhná, d’fhir, do pháistí, do theaghlaigh agus do chúramóirí atá buailte ag an ghalar.
Chomh maith le tacaíocht phearsantaithe, iomlánaíoch a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd atá ag maireachtáil le diagnóis ailse, cuireann an charthanacht ceardlanna feasachta agus cosc ar ailse ar fáil fud fad Dhoire, an tSratha Báin agus an Iarthuaisicirt i gcoitinne.
Ag labhairt ag an seoladh i Halla na Cathrach an tseachtain seo, mhol Méara Uí Niallais an ról ríthábhachtach atá ag an charthanacht.
“Is mór an onóir dom Hive Cancer Support a roghnú mar mo charthanacht roghnaithe don bhliain atá romhainn,” a dúirt sí. “Tugann an eagraíocht lámh tharrthála do lear mór daoine agus teaghlaigh fud fad na Cathrach agus an Cheantair atá ag plé leis na dúshláin a bhaineann le diagnóis ailse.”
“Déanann siad difear mór inár bpobal lena gcur chuige comhbhách, atá dírithe ar dhaoine agus lena dtiomantas chun feasacht ar chosc ar ailse agus luathbhrath a chur chun cinn.”
“Tá mé ag súil go mór le bheith ag obair leis an fhoireann i Hive i rith mo thréimhse mar Mhéara agus tá súil agam go dtacaíonn an pobal leis na himeachtaí tiomsaithe airgid atá beartaithe againn.”
“Le chéile, is féidir linn a chinntiú go leanann an charthanacht ar aghaidh leis an obair iontach do gach uile duine ar a bhfuil gá acu léi.”
Tharla bailiúchán sráide don charthanacht i rith Fhéile Mhuirí an Fheabhail ar an tseachtain seo caite agus tá tuilleadh bailiúchán beartaithe do Dhamhsaí Tae an Mhéara, Leathmharatón Dhoire Trasna, Oíche Shamhna, Lasadh Soilse na Nollag agus an Fhéile Snagcheoil.
Tá réimse tograí nuálacha tiomsaithe airgid beartaithe do thréimhse oifige an Mhéara Uí Niallais agus fógrófar na sonraí ar fad amach anseo.
Dúirt Maureen Collins, Bainisteoir Tionscnaimh le Hive Cancer Support gur ‘aisling fhíoraithe’ í don eagraíocht bheith roghnaithe mar Charthanacht Roghnaithe an Mhéara.
“Cosúil le gach carthanacht phobalbhunaithe, chuir an bhliain seo caite dúshláin mhóra maoinithe romhainn.
“Ar an dea-uair, le cúpla mí anuas, fuair muid maoiniú úr lenár seirbhísí a dhaingniú ar feadh bliana eile.
“Ach ba thréimhse dheacair í dár mbaill, dár mBord Stiúrtha agus dár bhfoireann agus tá cuid dár bhfoireann luachmhar a bhog chuig róil úra lasmuigh den eagraíocht.
“Mar sin tá ardú croí tugtha dúinn agus mothaíonn sé gur aisling fhíoraithe atá ann agus muid roghnaithe mar Charthanacht Roghnaithe an Mhéara.
“Cuideoidh an t-airgead a bhailítear linn leanstan ar aghaidh ag tabhairt tacaíochta dóibh siúd ar fad a bhfuil diagnóis ailse orthu le cúram pearsantaithe, iomlánaíoch agus le feasacht a ardú ar bhrath agus chosc ar ailse tríd ár gceardlanna oideachais uathála.
“Déanfaidh sé ár bpróifíl phoiblí atá láidir cheana féin a neartú ionas go mbíonn muintir na háite ar an eolas go bhfuil muid anseo agus nach bhfuil orthu aghaidh a thabhairt ar a n-aistear ailse leo féin.”
Is féidir teacht ar an eolas is déanaí faoi thograí tiomsaithe airgid uile an Mhéara i rith na bliana ar www.derrystrabane.com/mayor áit a bhfuil nasc ar fáil chomh maith le hairgead a thabhairt.
Roinnfear sonraí faoi na himeachtaí tiomsaithe airgid ar ardáin mheán shóisialta an Mhéara ar Facebook agus X chomh maith.