Oasis Travel managing director joins cancer charity board

Oasis Travel managing director Scott McCabe has joined the board of charity Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer (NIPANC) following his uncle’s death from the illness six years ago.

Gary Corkin, the brother of agency founder Sandra Corkin, was Oasis Travel’s finance director.

Since his death from pancreatic cancer in March 2020, the family-run business has been an active supporter of NIPANC.

“Anything that NIPANC does, we like to support it in any way we can,” said McCabe, who attended his first board meeting on January 27.

The charity’s main aims are to increase public understanding of pancreatic cancer, promote awareness of signs and symptoms, fund research, and support patients and their families.

This will be the third year that Oasis Travel has submitted a team to the charity’s Pedal the Periphery event, a relay-format endurance cycling challenge which sees participants complete a 480-mile circuit around Northern Ireland in 48 hours.

McCabe said: “We’ve got 62 people in the business and we have 10 members who have been impacted by pancreatic cancer, so we submit a team every year for this event in June.”

Looking forward to helping further with the NIPANC’s work, he said: “I’m a real advocate for the charity and willing to get involved physically and commit time.”

He added: “I can look at things from a fresh perspective. I’m young and energetic and it’s a case of seeing what needs done and what comes from the strategy day and then applying my time and energy to it.”

He said his aunt Wendy, Gary’s wife, continues to work at Oasis Travel and also supports NIPANC. Gary and Wendy’s son Craig is a supporter too.

NIPANC chair Ivan McMinn said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Scott to the NIPANC board.

“He brings real energy, insight and leadership at a time when the charity is growing in both reach and impact.

“Scott’s personal connection to our cause, combined with his professional experience, will be a huge asset as we build on recent successes and continue working towards a better future for pancreatic cancer patients and their families.”