Dragon Gavin Duffy promotes pink purchasing to support people affected by breast cancer

The Dragon’s Den investor announces Irish Cancer Society’s Pink Partners for 2017

Leading Irish businessman Gavin Duffy was tickled pink today as he announced the names of the Pink Partners, 10 Irish companies preparing to turn their products pink this October to raise funds to support breast cancer patients and their families.

Taking a break from scrutinising the business plans of Ireland’s eager entrepreneurs, Mr Duffy was backing companies who will donate the proceeds from the sale of their pink products to the Irish Cancer Society this October. Money raised will help fund support and care services for people affected by breast cancer, and also innovative cancer research projects to improve the outcome for breast cancer patients.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women (after non melanoma skin cancer) and over 2,900 women are diagnosed with the disease each year in Ireland. 85% of women in Ireland now survive breast cancer over five years compared to less than 50% in 1976.

Companies joining the fight against breast cancer as Pink Partners are Boots, Centra, Dairygold Co-Op, Henry Schein Ireland, Inglot, GHD, Corby Rock Mill, Kevin Dempsey Distributors and Prestigious Textiles Ireland/SLX, Little Greene Paint Company and MissDesignerGolf.com.

Speaking at the launch Mr Duffy said, “An important part of any business is a commitment to corporate social responsibility and giving back to people in the community who need support. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women in Ireland so I’m delighted to see Irish companies proactively supporting all those affected by breast cancer this October. Members of the public can get behind this initiative by purchasing pink during breast cancer awareness month and supporting the fight back against breast cancer.”

Money raised by this year’s generous Pink Partners will help fund the Irish Cancer Society’s work against breast cancer – funding vital research and free nationwide services for those affected by breast cancer all over Ireland, such as Night Nursing, the Freephone Cancer Nurseline 1800 700 200 and the Volunteer Driver Service which transports patients to chemotherapy appointments. The Society receives just 2% funding form the Government and relies on the generosity of members of the public and companies to run its services and to fund lifesaving cancer research.

Pink Partners 2017

1. 84 Boots stores around the country will be selling Irish Cancer Society Pink Ribbons and merchandise. Boots staff will also be participating in a range of fundraising activities throughout the month, including pink bake sales and stationary cycling events.
2. Centra will be selling gorgeous pink and black water bottles in all of their stores during the month of October. The bottles, which are BPA free, will cost €5. In addition, many of the 250 Centra stores across Ireland are holding Cups against cancer coffee mornings and walks throughout the month. Check www.centra.ie for more details.
3. Dairygold Co-Op sold Pink Bale Wrap throughout 39 stores in Munster and online at coopsuperstores.ie during the summer silage season again this year. The very successful initiative increases awareness of cancer in rural Ireland as well as raising much needed funds.
4. This year hair care product manufacturer ghd have launched a limted edition stunning pink blush collection which includes their ghd platinum styler (€10 donation), pink blush ghd hairdryer (€10 donation), and ghd paddle brush (€2 donation). Items will be sold in salons nationwide, premium retail outlets and on ghdhair.ie.
5. Inglot cosmetics are holding "Think Pink" events in their stores throughout Ireland on Saturday, October 14 and will be donating €2 from every pink lipstick and nail product sold. The products can also be purchased at www.inglot.ie.
6. Kevin Dempsey Distributors, Prestigious Textiles Ireland/SLX donate 2% of all purchases of Prestigious Textiles soft furnishing fabrics and SLX - Styleline Express window blind products to the Irish Cancer Society all year round. The products are available in over 200 soft furnishing retail outlets and window blinds specialists nationwide - for details of your nearest retail store contact 01 456 8280 or visit www.slx.ie and www.prestigious.ie.
7. The Little Greene Paint Company are donating 20 cents from the sale of every tin of paint and roll of wallpaper during the month of October. If you are planning a makeover in your home see www.littlegreene.com for a list of stockists.
8. MissDesignerGolf.com sell discounted luxury golf wear to ladies in Ireland, UK and internationally. For October 10% of net sales from the www.missdesignergolf.com will be donated. In addition they will have a number of Pink Ribbon accessories for sale on their website and will be encouraging customers to play a round of golf wearing pink clothing to raise awareness of breast cancer.
9. Henry Schein Ireland LTD will offer customers the opportunity to join the company in the fight against cancer by purchasing a range of pink products to help support Henry Schein’s Practice Pink programme – an initiative designed to raise awareness and support a cure for cancer. A portion of sales from these pink products – including health care consumables and practice supplies – will be donated to the Society.
10. Corby Rock Mill are donating 50 cent from every bag of poultry feed sold during the month of October. The feed is available to buy throughout Merchant Stores in Ireland.

John McCormack, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society said: “It is wonderful to see a broad spectrum of companies come on board as Pink Partners this year to support breast cancer patients and their families. A cancer diagnosis can be very frightening, but money raised through the sale of these products will help provide key supports to help cancer patients and their families, from the point of diagnosis, throughout treatment and to the end of their cancer journey. As an independent charity, we rely heavily on support from the business community and the public to ensure no one will face cancer alone. Thank you to our Pink Partners for their outstanding generosity, together, we won’t give up until cancer does.”

Any company wishing to become a Pink Partner can contact the Irish Cancer Society for more information on (01) 231 6625 or email corporate@irishcancer.ie.

For more information on our ‘Pink Partners’ visit www.cancer.ie/pinkpartners.