Wear it Pink this October

A letter to the editor from Michelle Blackburn, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is upon us, which means the return of Wear it Pink – Breast Cancer Now’s biggest and brightest fundraising event – on Friday 18 October.

Every 10 minutes, someone in the UK hears the words ‘you have breast cancer’. Sadly, this happened to my eldest sister Tracey. When she died in 2016, the news rippled through the family – shaking us all. Little did we know this was just the beginning of the long shadow breast cancer would cast over us.

In October 2020, I received my own diagnosis. Telling my younger sister Nikki was harder than I ever imagined. But when Nikki revealed months later that she’d also been diagnosed with breast cancer, I couldn’t believe it. Three sisters in one family!

While Tracey hadn’t lived to see my diagnosis, I was here to see Nikki’s – and I was determined to support her through this.

Together we have come out the other side. Although we were both tested for the BRCA gene, it came back negative. The hospital told us that there probably was a genetic connection, but more research was needed to establish one.

This is why I’m calling on everyone to wear pink and raise money this October to help fund a life-saving research breakthrough that could help families like mine.

Support is just as vital. By wearing pink, you can help someone get reliable information and support when they need it most. Or drive forward vital campaigning, to make sure everyone living with breast cancer gets the best possible treatment and care.

However you decide to fundraise, you will be helping Breast Cancer Now to continue its world-class research and vital support.

So, on Friday 18 October, Wear it Pink, raise money and help create a future where everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives, and is supported to live well. Sign up at wearitpink.org/SignUp.