Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Make your mark during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer charities throughout the UK are organising a range of events this month (October) to promote awareness about the condition and to encourage the public to help them raise money to support essential services and fund vital research for the 55,000* people who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Breast Cancer Care will also be marking Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day on 13 October, to recognise the needs and experiences of people living with secondary breast cancer. This occurs when the breast cancer cells spread from the first tumour in the breast to another part of the body. It cannot be cured, although it can be treated and controlled − sometimes for years.

If you’d like to take part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there’s a host of activities that you can get involved in.

How about organising a fun pink activity at your work, school or home on any Friday in October with the help of Breast Cancer Care’s Pink Fridays fundraising kit. To receive yours, visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk/fundraising-events/events/pink-fridays-2013-signup

On 19 October, join thousands of other women in Breast Cancer Care’s 5k or 10k run in the beautiful surroundings of Richmond Park. For more information, contact the Breast Cancer Care Press team on 020 7960 3463 or email press@breastcancercare.org.uk

Cancer Research UK is also offering lots of interesting fundraising ideas to help you beat cancer. Asking for donations to keep your lips sealed for a day could prove very lucrative if you’re something of a chatterbox, while agreeing to shave off your hair could have everyone reaching into their pockets. But if you don’t fancy getting rid of your locks, why not rid yourself of the clutter in your home? Auctioning off items you don’t need any more could bring in a pretty penny for this good cause and give you the extra living space you’ve been craving.

And if you don’t have the time or energy to organise a bake sale at work or climb a mountain for sponsorship, don’t worry! Just empty your pockets and donate loose change every night for a month. You’ll be amazed at how much you can collect in just a few weeks. Good luck!

*Figures taken from www.breastcancercare.org.uk/news/media-centre/breast-cancer-awareness-month-press-pack/breast-cancer-facts-stats

Wear it pink - Friday 25 October 2013

Think pink!

Wear it pink, Breast Cancer Campaign’s fundraising event, is making its annual return on Friday 25 October. The event calls on everyone to dress up in pink to raise money to fund research that will save women’s lives.

Anyone can take part – from school children to seniors. All you have to do is wear something pink or do something pink on Friday 25 October or any other day this month − and donate £2 to Breast Cancer Campaign. You can paint your nails pink, wear a pink accessory or eat something pink. Be as creative and as original as your imagination allows.

If you’re looking to hold your own fundraising wear it pink event, there are loads of ideas to choose from. Hold a pink-themed fancy dress competition with a prize for the pinkest costume at your school. Organise a bake-off at work, with pink-coloured cakes and treats, and then sell or raffle them off. Or host a pink dinner party or pamper evening at home. Anything goes!

Whatever you raise, be it £20 or £200, will help Breast Cancer Campaign support more people affected by breast cancer. To receive your free fundraising pack, visit www.wearitpink.org/register. And to find out about all the ways you can get involved, go to www.wearitpink.org/get-involved

If you’re looking for a pink accessory or a fancy dress costume, you'll be amazed at what's on offer. Choose from a pink glitter cowboy hat or pink pop wig, or go the whole hog and wear a pink fairy costume or become a pink musketeer for the day. But don't feel left out if you're a bloke. You're sure to make people go gaga in a men's pink baby costume.

National Wear a Tea Cosy on Your Head Day

Hats off to tea cosy headgear

If you've ever thought that tea cosies were just for warming up your cuppa, think again! Today (Thursday 26 September) you have the chance to wear a tea cosy on your head - and it's all for a good cause. 

Fashion and lifestyle brand White Stuff, which sells women’s and men’s clothing and accessories in over 85 UK shops and online, is holding its fourth annual National Wear a Tea Cosy on Your Head Day to raise money for charity. Each store will donate 10 per cent of all sales to charities supporting disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.  

To take part in this special event, you can buy online or in White Stuff's shops, your very own White Stuff tea cosy for just £3 - or simply make your own. And if you'd like the chance to win a £250 White Stuff voucher or £250 for the charity of your choice, just enter the mugshots competition on White Stuff's Facebook page. Simply upload a tea cosy picture to the mugshots competition app or at facebook.com/WhiteStuffU

And if you're the kind of person who'll use any excuse to wear a silly hat - or just like dressing up for fun - you could arrange your very own charity fundraising event with colleagues and friends, or hold your own party. Why not encourage people to don a hat or other accessory based on a specific theme. There are so many options to choose from - be it pirates or pop stars. Anything goes!