The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council has called on small businesses to join an exclusive fundraising partnership for Hive Cancer Support, a North West charity that has provided counselling and care to those affected by cancer for more than two decades.

The "10 in Ten" initiative, launched by Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, seeks ten local businesses willing to pledge £100 per month for ten months. In return, they receive Mayoral visits, recognition on official and charity social media channels, inclusion in press activity, exclusive partnership branding, and access to cancer awareness and prevention programmes delivered by Hive.

Uí Niallais said the collective impact of ten businesses could be significant. She encouraged those unable to commit to the official partnership to contact the Mayor's Office about other ways to support the charity.

Meanwhile, former Mayor Ruairí McHugh has presented cheques of over £40,000 to two charities, completing a year in office that raised a total of £81,580. The funds, gathered through bucket collections, sponsored events, tea dances and a charity ball, went to PIPS Suicide Prevention and the Castlederg Patient Comfort and Terminally Ill Fund.

PIPS offers free, unlimited, confidential counselling and a crisis walk-in centre in Belfast, while the Castlederg fund provides equipment, transport and temporary accommodation for people with chronic or terminal illness in the Castlederg area.

McHugh separately raised £15,500.76 for a UNICEF Gaza appeal through community events organised by schools and voluntary groups.

The Mayor's Office can be contacted on 028 7137 6508 for businesses interested in the 10 in Ten partnership.