Dee counting on auction to boost charity

Dee counting on auction to boost charity

6 August 2025

THE local farming community is being asked to support an annual ewe breeding lamb auction later this month in aid of Action Cancer.

The August 22 event at Saintfield Mart — which starts at 7.30pm — is being organised by Raffrey farmer Dee Heron who is appealing for livestock donations for the charity event.

A volunteer with the Moneyreagh and District Action Cancer Fundraising Group for over 30 years Dee, who is one of the charity’s skin cancer ambassadors, is organising the auction along with his family.

And he hopes it will be as successful as those of previous years.

Dee said he’s delighted to be organising another auction, with the support of auctioneer Geoffrey Murphy and Saintfield Mart.

“All money raised stays in Northern Ireland and goes towards the charity’s cancer support services including its skin cancer detection service,” he explained.

“However, we can’t hold an auction without the livestock so I am appealing to any farmers, local or otherwise to consider donating to the event.”

Dee knows first-hand how important Action Cancer’s skin cancer detection service is. 

As someone who has spent most of his life working outdoors, he shares his experience to help raise awareness.

“I have worked outdoors all my life and, when I was a young lad making hay at 10 years old, it was shirts off running around the field thinking it was great,” said Dee. “We didn’t have any suncream on and there was no protection. I was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008 after a mole on my spine looked suspicious.”

Protection

Dee revealed that thankfully it was caught early and he’s now cancer free and he’s encouraging anyone who works outdoors to ensure they protect themselves in the sun, keep covered up and wear sun cream.

“If you have any moles, keep a close eye on them and if there are any noticeable changes, contact Action Cancer,” he added.

The charity’s community fundraising executive, Mark Irwin-Watson, revealed the 2023 auction raised over £15,000 and remarkably reached £18,215 last year.

“As always, we are truly indebted to Dee, staff at Saintfield Livestock Mart, and everyone who made donations and bid on the animals,” said Mark.

“We could never have anticipated raising such a significant amount of money and are truly grateful to all involved.”

Northern Ireland has one of the highest incidences of skin cancer in the UK. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common cancer and melanoma, which is associated with moles, is the fifth.

It’s anticipated that the money raised from the livestock auction will enable Action Cancer to provide at least 150 appointments for early detection of skin cancer. 

The charity’s skin cancer detection service offers another pathway for people concerned about a new or changing skin lesion. 

Delivered by a highly qualified and experienced nursing specialist team, the service offers a two-stage process. 

Clients will first be assessed during a virtual appointment by a skin cancer specialist nurse and if a further assessment is needed, a face-to-face appointment is offered on board an upcoming visit by the Big Bus (supported by SuperValu and Centra) which visits all five health trust areas across Northern Ireland twice every four weeks, or at Action Cancer House in Belfast.

The Big Bus visits up to 200 locations throughout Northern Ireland each year, including rural areas and areas of high deprivation where health inequalities are greatest. 

In addition to the skin cancer detection service, breast cancer screening and health checks are also offered on board. 

Action Cancer has been at the heart of cancer prevention, detection and support for people in Northern Ireland for the last 50 years. And while the services Action Cancer provides are free to the user, they come at a cost to the charity of £4m every year. 

The services include an early detection breast screening clinic, therapeutic services for people living with a cancer diagnosis, as well as people supporting a loved one with a diagnosis and a range of health improvement services.

 Anyone who would like to get involved and support the charity auction in Saintfield by donating livestock is asked contact Mark Irwin-Watson on 028 9080 3371 or email mirwin-watson@actioncancer.org