Business First is the media partner for the initiative and will be featuring some of the new members over the coming months.

A number of Founding Members are leading the way, namely Victoria Square's flagship store, House of Fraser, and local meat processing company, Foyle Food Group.

Nigel McIlwaine, Group Finance and HR Director of Foyle Food Group commented, "At the Foyle Food Group we take our corporate social responsibility very seriously and being a founder member of the Everyhour Club is an important aspect of our community and charitable involvement".

Gary Slattery, General Manager of House of Fraser in Belfast states, "The Everyhour Club offers a valuable opportunity for business to help those diagnosed with cancer, and invest in their workplace health at the same time."

Kerry McCrea, Corporate Fundraising Officer, said: "It's in the interests of every company to play an active role regarding the health of their workers and membership with Everyhour provides an easy, and cost effective way to develop a companies workplace health strategy. Taking measures to improve the health and fitness of your workforce has been shown to improve productivity, reduce absenteeism, increase worker retention and boost morale. With cancer incidence set to rise by 54% by 2025 this is a growing issue that companies should not ignore."

As an entirely local cancer charity, Action Cancer has a focus on early detection and prevention of cancer and up to 80% of cancers can actually be prevented with the right lifestyle choices.

This includes things like being body aware, eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise, not smoking, drinking alcohol responsibly and being safe in the sun.

For members of the Everyhour Club, Action Cancer health promotion officers will provide an initial health awareness session for employees.

Sessions can be tailored according to the age, gender and individual needs of the group.

Members will also be eligible for discounted BIG BUS bookings, which is Action Cancer's state-of-the-art mobile screening and health promotion unit.

The hi-tech BIG BUS service is a 18 metre-long articulated unit, with expanding sides which double the interior space.

The vehicle carries a mobile digital mammography (breast screening) suite to detect breast cancer - Action Cancer is the only charity to offer breast screening services for women 40-49 and 65+ who fall out of the NHS screening range.

The BIG BUS also provides men's MOT health checks - the only comprehensive check of its kind run by any charity in Northern Ireland.

It offers a range of checks and advice including Body Mass Index, cholesterol levels, lung capacity, blood pressure and skin analysis.

It also offers guidance on life-style changes that, if implemented, could save two out of three lives from cancer.

Information leaflets on prostate, testicular and other cancers are also provided so that men can familiarise themselves with the relevant symptoms.

Support for those affected by cancer is also provided on board the unit including complementary therapy.

Since its launch in September 2006, the BIG BUS has made a significant impact on the provision of cancer services to over 7,000 people in Northern Ireland.

The charities breast screening service has trebled with a current average of 1100 women being screened each month, resulting in an average detection of 7 breast cancers every month. The investment in the BIG BUS amounts to £1.5 million in the first three years and a major player in helping the BIG BUS get on the road has been the main sponsor SuperValu, who are funding over £600,000 of the cost, including the annual running costs of £120,000.