The Irish beauty has come onboard with Action Cancer to support its awareness campaigns on the importance of lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Action Cancer has a dedicated health promotion team and the charity also carries out a number of awareness raising campaigns throughout the year.

Samantha intends to assist this work by encouraging people to get active, eat a healthy diet and become more bodily aware in order to spot symptoms.

"I am thrilled to be a patron as I feel cancer is an important issue that touches so many lives and Action Cancer carry out excellent work in terms of prevention, detection and support," she said.

"I look forward to lending my support and doing what I can over the coming year to help raise awareness of the impact lifestyle has on cancer and send out important health messages that will save lives and reduce the risk of people getting cancer in the first place."

A landmark report recently published by the World Cancer Research Fund found that being even slightly overweight can put people at greater risk of six common cancers.

While body fat has always been considered a factor in causing cancer it has never been as closely linked as this report suggests.

Action Cancer says preventative health messages will now be crucial to reduce the incidences of cancer in the future.

Action Cancer was founded in 1973. It relies heavily on donations from the public and business communities in Northern Ireland to provide a range of vital, life-saving services including digital breast screening services, men's MOT health checks, counselling, complementary therapy, Listening Ear Service, health promotion and research.

Services are available regionally through offices in Londonderry, Newry, Magherafelt, on the Big Bus and at Action Cancer House in Belfast.