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Aid Cancer Treatment – A Tale of Impact

How a small charity’s first website became a long-term partner in fundraising and community outreach.

Aid Cancer Treatment (ACT) is a Cork-based non-profit that supports cancer patients and their families through fundraising, equipment donations and comfort initiatives. In 2021 they approached me — then a night student in software development — to build their first official website. That project helped shape how ASR Web Services now works with community organisations.

Key outcomes at a glance

  • Over €8,000 in additional online donations raised in 2024 via PayPal and iDonate.
  • The website now supports year-round events, updates and digital fundraising campaigns.
  • The inaugural Bluebell Lunch fundraiser raised over €9,000 in 2023.
  • Community engagement increased through regular posts and a clearer digital presence.
  • ACT’s digital fundraising now includes QR codes, social posts and embedded campaigns.
  • I was later invited to join the Aid Cancer Treatment Board of Directors following the project’s success.

Project background

Before the project, Aid Cancer Treatment had strong community support offline, but limited capacity to share their work online. They needed:

  • A clear home for their story, history and mission.
  • A trustworthy way for people to donate online.
  • A simple way to highlight events like the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon and the Bluebell Lunch.

The website became a foundation for their digital presence, connecting supporters, events and fundraising efforts in one place.

Scope of the build

The first version of the Aid Cancer Treatment site was a static brochure-style build with:

  • Homepage, history, testimonials, gallery and events sections.
  • Responsive layout for phones, tablets and desktops.
  • Donation links to PayPal and iDonate.
  • Clear contact section with email and phone details.
  • Social integration and references to key events and campaigns.
  • Hosting and email configuration support via Blacknight.

Design philosophy

The design emphasised clarity, warmth and accessibility. The tone needed to feel respectful and reassuring for a diverse audience: donors, patients, families and volunteers.

I focused on:

  • Simple, predictable navigation.
  • Soft, low-clutter layouts that put stories and events first.
  • Fast performance on a wide range of devices.

Technical build

The initial build used a lightweight tech stack:

  • HTML, CSS and JavaScript for a static but modular structure.
  • Manual embedding of iDonate and PayPal donation links.
  • Hosting and email forwarding configured via Blacknight.
  • Optimised images and code for performance.
  • A structure designed to make future edits and expansion straightforward.

Impact & growth over time

Since launch, the website and Facebook have become central to Aid Cancer Treatment’s fundraising. Some highlights include:

  • Ongoing online donations through iDonate and PayPal.
  • Regular community engagement through digital updates and event promotion.
  • The Bluebell Lunch fundraising event growing year-on-year since 2023.
  • #TeamACT participation in events such as the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon and local runs.
  • Support from local clubs like Leeds AFC, including jersey sponsorships and festivals of football.

Timeline highlights

  • 2021–2022: ACT approaches Karl for support; first official website launched.
  • Late 2022: Integration of PayPal and iDonate for online giving.
  • 2023: First Bluebell Lunch raises over €9,000 for patient support.
  • 2024: Over €8,000 in online donations; multiple fundraiser events promoted via the site.
  • 2025 and beyond: Ongoing events, jersey sponsorships and digital campaigns.

Lessons & legacy

The Aid Cancer Treatment project helped define ASR’s approach to working with non-profits:

  • Use modular, lightweight builds that can grow over time.
  • Prioritise documentation and continuity from the start.
  • Balance visual charm with accessible, low-friction design.

If rebuilt today, the site would benefit from CMS tools and auto-updating event listings, but the original modular approach has already proven durable and adaptable.

Future vision

Looking ahead, a future rebuild could include:

  • A full modular rebuild aligned with the ASR “Red Book” system.
  • Multilingual support to reach a wider community.
  • An integrated CMS so committee members can make updates directly.
  • Donation tracking and tier-based sponsorship listings.
  • Dedicated event registration pages for campaigns like the Bluebell Lunch and #TeamACT runs.

Client words

“I had the pleasure of working with Karl and I cannot speak highly enough of his contribution to our charity. He consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and exceptional skills in communication and problem solving.

Karl’s attention to detail and innovative approach made a significant impact on the results we as a charity derived from our website and social media development. His professionalism and dedication are excellent. His ability to collaborate with the Board made the project seamless and enjoyable.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Karl to anyone looking for someone who brings value, creativity and excellence to their work. He is an asset in every sense of the word.”

— Bernice Ryan, Director, Aid Cancer Treatment

Planning a similar project?

If you’re a charity, community group or small organisation who recognises yourself in this story, I’d be happy to talk about what a tailored scroll might look like for you.

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