12th annual walk on the Heath to help beat breast cancer
Press Release For immediate release: 7 June 2010 Press contact: Breast Cancer Campaign Press Office DD: 0207 749 4115, Email: press@breastcancercampaign.org 12th annual walk on the Heath to help beat breast cancer Breast Cancer Campaign is urging everyone across North London to put their best foot forward for breast cancer research this summer at the hugely popular Generations Walk. On Sunday 4 July hundreds of people are expected to don their pinkest outfit and step up to beat breast cancer at the 12th annual event on Hampstead Heath and the charity wants you to join in while raising vital funds for breast cancer research. Since the Generations Walk began in 1999, thousands of walkers have taken part in the five-mile Sunday stroll to raise more than a quarter of a million pounds for Campaign and this year is set to be even bigger and pinker. Local Walk Champ, Cheryl Stakol, who has organised each walk after being diagnosed with breast cancer, said: “I’m thrilled the walk has raised so much money for breast cancer research as it’s a worthwhile cause that’s very close to my heart. Each year 46,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer across the UK so the need to keep funding research into this disease is stronger than ever. The walk is a really great day out so I hope lots of people will join me on the day and help Breast Cancer Campaign take a step closer to beating breast cancer.” All funds raised at the Generations Walk will help support a project by Dr Sandra Bell at Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine. This project could potentially enable scientists to predict which women would benefit from currently available treatments and could also enable other drugs to be produced for those women with cancers which are resistant to current treatments. Dr Bell said: “Without the tireless fundraising efforts of people like Cheryl Stakol, who has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds through the Generations Walk, with almost £38,000 going to my project, I wouldn’t be able to carry out my work.” The Generations Walk takes place on Sunday 4 July at 9.30am on Hampstead Heath and people can register on the day. All walkers are encouraged to wear pink and a prize will be given to the best pink fancy dress outfit. Registration is £5 for adults, free for under 12s and participants will receive a medal when they have finished. There is also a free breakfast for all walkers served after the walk at Kenwood House. If you would like to join Cheryl on the day please visit www.generationswalk.co.uk or call the Events team on 020 7749 3700. ENDS Picture caption: Cheryl Stakol (centre) with walkers at last year’s Generation Walk Notes to editors • Breast Cancer Campaign aims to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure • Currently it supports 113 research projects, worth over £17.1 million, in 40 centres of excellence across the UK and Ireland • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women • In the UK, nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 125 a day • Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org • Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/ • Breast Cancer Campaign is campaigning for all candidates standing for election to Westminster to sign up to the breast cancer research pledge: www.breastcancercampaign.org/election
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