Two Armagh friends who underwent their own separate struggles with breast cancer have “come out the other side” with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm that has led them to develop a series of communtity events, all for the benefit of three very special charities.
Now thankfully in recovery, Michelle McDonald and Aine Canavan are the inspirational women behind ‘The Big Ribbon Fundraiser’.
Speaking to Armagh I, Michelle said the pair had attended Darkley Primary School together as children, they then went on to work together as teens in Longstone Nursing Home before regrettably losing touch for a number of years.
Years later and both married, Michelle came into contact with Aine while she was in the midst of a breast cancer journey. Months after being reunited, Michelle found herself following in Aine’s footsteps, with her own diagnosis.
While it was unfortunate circumstance that brought the two back together, Michelle said it was “so precious that we had eachother”.
She said they each knew that when they “came out the other end” they wanted to do soemthing to give back to the charities who helped and supported them along their way.
Left, Aine and right, Michelle at their Sparkle and Sip event
They chose Pretty N Pink Breast Cancer Charity, Leukaemia & Lymphoma and Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge as the beneficiaries of any funds raised. Each holds a place close to their hearts and all proceeds will be split entirely equally between all three.
The pair began planning their events in April 2026, they were batting countless ideas about; afternoon teas, fun runs, table quizzes and tractor runs!
They couldn’t decide what to do, said Michelle, so they decided, “why don’t we just do them all?”
Together, they put the wheels in motion and roped in obliging friends – now known collectively as a team of ‘Ribbons’ – who helped them plan a “hugely successful” tractor run and children’s fun day in Granemore as their first event.
Following the success of their first effort, the Ribbons dove head-first into the rest! To date, they have held a Table Quiz in Keady, Fit4Four, KidsROX and a triathlon-style event, all of which have been a “fantastic success”.
Last Saturday, the team welcomed a whopping 220 ladies to a sold-out Sparkle & Sip Ladies’ Afternoon Tea held in Tassagh’s Basil Sheils, with a guest appearance from Co Tyrone’s famed author and cancer warrior, Emma Heatherington, of whom Michelle said, “Everyone could do with listening to a few words from Emma!”
The ‘Ribbon Team’
The evening was another roaring victory for The Ribbons, with the team of Basil Sheils evening commenting on their positive energy and how every woman left the venue “buzzing” from a great evening’s craic, said Michelle.
The team still have two events planned for the 2026 calendar year, with one “massive” event planned for this weekend!
This Saturday (August 29) will see The Big Ribbon 10-Mile Road Race and 3K Family Fun Run taking place in Clonmore, with support from Healthy Kids.
Then, on November 7, the team will wrap up with a bang with their Gala Ball event, which will also be held in Basil Sheils Bar and Restaurant.
Such is the success of their programme of events, the pair have been asked repeatedly to make The Big Ribbon Fundraiser an annual thing!
While both ladies work full-time and their team of Ribbons are equally busy, they have plans to keep some of the more popular events running on a yearly basis.
“It’s a win, win,” said Michelle. “It’s a great way to have fun, bring people together and raise money at the same time.”
They say the generosity shown has been “incredible” between money put into donation buckets, sponsorship of prizes and the time freely given to support their cause.
“Everyone who put money in our buckets said they had a mummy, sister, auntie or friend, someone they knew had an experience with cancer,” continued Michelle. “We would like to thank everyone for their generosity. We are pulling off all these events and it’s costing us next to nothing.
“Local and not so local businesses have made contributions of sandwiches, traybakes, champagne receptions… all of that.”
Of their team of Ribbons and ‘Little Ribbons’ – comprised of their children – Michelle added: “Without them we couldn’t do this. Even our husbands, Stuart and John and our children… because there are times where our whole households become about The Big Ribbon.”
