Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland will be asked to go pink again this October. First, though, the campaign gets a proper send-off under the roof of Stormont’s Great Hall.
On Friday 25 September, Comber Silver Band and Fortwilliam Musical Society share the stage for an evening of music and song — a one-night collaboration to launch Action Cancer’s annual Paint the Town Pink fundraising campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Action Renewables is backing the campaign again in 2026.
Tickets for the Stormont night are £20 and available via Action Cancer: actioncancer.org/event/an-evening-of-music-and-song-at-stormont. You can also call 028 9080 3344. Free parking is available at the estate.
Why the pink matters
Paint the Town Pink runs every October. Money raised goes to Action Cancer’s free breast screening service — the only one of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Every £120 funds one screening for well women aged 40–49 and 70+, groups not covered by the routine NHS programme.
There is no government funding for that screening service. It relies on community and business fundraising. Last year’s Paint the Town Pink campaign raised £63,000.
Businesses across Northern Ireland are being asked to go pink through October — coffee mornings, bake sales, dress-down days, pink pub quizzes. Action Cancer will send fundraising packs with bunting, balloons, collection boxes and ideas.
Action Renewables back again
Action Renewables is a returning partner for 2026. Lana Moore, Head of Charity Delivery at Action Renewables, said:
“We’re proud to support Paint the Town Pink again in 2026. Last year’s campaign raised an amazing £63,000 – a testament to the generosity and spirit of businesses and communities across Northern Ireland.
“Action Cancer’s team continues to deliver life-changing work, and we’re committed to helping amplify their message throughout October and beyond. The outstanding service delivered by the Action Cancer team deserves our continued support, and we encourage businesses across Northern Ireland to get involved, embrace the pink, and help make a lasting difference to the lives of women in our community.”
Early detection on the ground
Donna Kelly, Lead Advanced Practice Radiographer at Action Cancer, said:
“Action Cancer aims to provide up to 8,000 breast screenings in Northern Ireland each year for asymptomatic women aged 40–49 and 70+, who are not currently captured by routine NHS breast screening. On average, we detect one cancer each week.
“We are the only charity in the UK or Ireland to offer such a service. When it comes to breast cancer, early detection saves lives. At Action Cancer, we use state-of-the-art 3D technology for women aged 40–49. This can detect cancers as small as a grain of rice, which is especially helpful for women with dense breast tissue.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Northern Ireland — around 30% of female cancer diagnoses. On average, 1,516 women are diagnosed each year and 310 die.
Action Cancer across NI
Action Cancer has been working for more than 50 years. Its services are free to the user and cost the charity about £4 million a year. That covers early detection clinics, therapeutic support and health improvement work from Action Cancer House in Belfast, 13 regional locations, and the Big Bus — supported by SuperValu and Centra — which visits around 175 locations a year.
How to take part
Want a seat at Stormont on 25 September? Book through Action Cancer’s event page: actioncancer.org/event/an-evening-of-music-and-song-at-stormont (£20), or call 028 9080 3344.
To paint your workplace, shop or local pink in October, contact Mark Irwin-Watson in the fundraising team on 07580 133752 or email pttp@actioncancer.org. Campaign registration and packs are also via Action Cancer’s Paint the Town Pink 2026 page: actioncancer.org/event/paint-the-town-pink-2026.
Stormont sets the tone. October is when Northern Ireland turns pink — and when the money turns into screenings.
Read more: Love Belfast backs Cancer Focus NI’s Go Pink campaign this October with announcement of charity media partnership · Action Cancer launches October Breast Cancer Awareness campaign with Gordons Chemists
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