Cancer charity receives £11,000 from Omagh race organisers

THE Omagh Half Marathon has donated £11,000 to local charity Care for Cancer, which was this year’s chosen charity for the 2025 event.

The cheque was presented to Care for Cancer chairperson PJ McAleer and vice president Laura Mills before the race began at the weekend. A team of volunteers from the charity also played a key role on race day, manning water stations and handing out goodie bags at the finish line.

Care for Cancer, based in Omagh, provides vital support to people across the district. Services include a drop-in centre run by experienced volunteers, transport to hospital appointments, complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, reflexology and reiki, as well as counselling and support groups for those affected by cancer and their families. The charity further offers a bra-fitting service for women who have undergone breast surgery, provision of recliner chairs for the terminally ill, access to an information library, and a range of classes and social activities.

The organisation relies heavily on donations and the generosity of the local community, and said the contribution from the Half Marathon is ‘very much welcomed’.

A spokesperson for Care for Cancer said: “We are very appreciative of the donation, and the money will be used to support local people going through treatment and their families.

“Care for Cancer is nearly 100 per-cent funded by generous donations from the public, and many people in the local area rely on our services.

“Our volunteers had a great day in the sun, and we would like to thank Omagh Half Marathon for the donation and the great, well-organised day.”

Race director Micheal Ward said the event would continue to support worthy causes in the years ahead.

“This year’s chosen charity was Care for Cancer, which is a fantastic local organisation that helps many people in the Omagh area,” he said.

“The volunteers from the charity were fantastic and did an impressive job handing out our after-run bags and at the water stations.

“Each year, we select a charity through our application process, and we’ve now raised a substantial amount over the years. I want to thank the volunteers from Care for Cancer for their hard work.”