Liz McInnes MP wears it pink for Breast Cancer Now fundraiser

Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes added an extra dash of pink to her signature black and pink colours to support Breast Cancer Now’s ‘wear it pink’ fundraiser, which takes place on Friday 18 October.

Since launching in 2002, ‘wear it pink’ has raised over £33 million to date. Ms McInnes is calling for residents of Heywood and Middleton to join her, by signing up for wear it pink and helping to make possible life-saving breast cancer research and life changing support for those affected by the disease.

Ms McInnes said: “An average of 174 women a year develop breast cancer in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale. Sadly 35 of these women will lose their lives to this awful disease.

“The local NHS CCG reports average screening uptakes of 69.6%, slightly below the national average of 71.1%. If you’re concerned, you may be at risk book in to see your local GP immediately.”

She continued: “I met with Breast Cancer Now and some of the people they support, to learn more about the vital research and care this incredible charity provides. On Friday 18 October wear it pink events will be held across the country to help raise much-needed awareness and money for this cause.”

Anyone can take part in wear it pink. Some people will choose to hold a cake sale, while others will opt to organise a raffle and some will arrange a pink fancy dress day at their school or workplace. No matter how people chose to wear it pink, all the money raised will help to fund vital breast cancer research and support.

There are already 25 planned wear it pink events in Heywood and Middleton. Join in and host your own by signing up at wearitpink.org/mp.

Ms McInnes added: “I am proud to report that last year my constituents’ efforts helped raise over £4,000 that went towards funding life-saving research. Let’s raise this amount in 2019.

“If you’re hosting an event in Heywood and Middleton for wear it pink, please let me know and I’ll try to attend.”

In April 2019, Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now merged to create the UK’s first comprehensive breast cancer charity, united around the shared ambition that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live, and be supported to live well.

Every wear it pink donation will help towards this goal, as the UK still has one of the lowest breast cancer survival rates in Western Europe and this year alone around 11,500 women will lose their lives.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, said: “Breast cancer still affects so many of us, and our goal as a charity is that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live, and be supported to live well. The money raised from wear it pink is so crucial to this helping us to fund vital breast cancer research and support for those affected by the disease.

“We hope that by wearing pink, Liz will encourage more people to wear it pink in on 18 October and help us to continue to fund vital breast cancer research and support.”

Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer research charity, funding world class research focused entirely on breast cancer, supporting nearly 380 of the world’s brightest researchers at 31 locations across the UK and Ireland.