Joe Pasquale hands local scientists £30k to beat breast cancer

Press release For immediate release: 7 January 2009 Press contact: Katie Power, 020 7749 3720 kpower@breastcancercampaign.org Joe Pasquale hands local scientists £30k to beat breast cancer Breast Cancer Campaign celebrity supporter Joe Pasquale presented scientists at the University of Birmingham with a £30,000 cheque today on behalf of Debenhams to help them get a step closer to beating breast cancer. The comedian, who is currently performing in Sleeping Beauty at the Birmingham Hippodrome, took time out to meet the scientists funded by Breast Cancer Campaign and kindly present them with the cheque donated by charity partner Debenhams. Debenhams has supported Campaign since 2001 and raised a fantastic £415,000 for the charity in 2009 through the sales of in-store products and staff fundraising, bringing the total raised to date up to £2.3 million. Funds raised will go toward ten different research projects across the UK and Ireland. This includes Dr Berditchevski’s project at the University of Birmingham which aims to study a molecule called CD9, which is believed to play a critical role in breast cancer cells spreading to other parts of the body. Joe Pasquale said “Breast cancer is something that affects so many people and families each year, so I’m very proud to present this cheque to help the scientists here in Birmingham find a way to beat this disease. The work they do is incredible and its been an honour to find out more about their research. However one in nine women in the UK will still be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, so it’s vital that we continue to support charities like Breast Cancer Campaign in the hope that one day we will find a cure for this awful disease.” Alison Jones, Debenhams Marketing Director, said “We are incredibly proud to support this worthwhile cause. The partnership has become very important to us and our customers. Hopefully our contribution will not only help Breast Cancer Campaign in its mission to beat breast cancer, but also highlight the fantastic research being carried out here in Birmingham and across the UK and Ireland.” For more information about the Debenhams partnership or for details on any of Breast Cancer Campaign’s research projects please call 020 7749 3700 or visit www.breastcancercampaign.org ENDS Notes to editors PICTURE CAPTION Joe Pasquale hands cheque to Dr Berditchevski with Steve Makey, Store Manager of Debenhams Bullring store. Joe Pasquale stars in the UK’s biggest pantomime Sleeping Beauty at Birmingham Hippodrome until 31 January. Tickets 0844 338 5000 or www.birminghamhippodrome.com • 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 almost £15.5 million, in 44 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 urges women to be breast aware this Breast Cancer Awareness Month and continue throughout the year as early detection can save lives. Follow the five-point code: know what is normal for you, look and feel, know what changes to look for, report any changes without delay and attend a breast screening if aged 50 or over. Women over 70 should contact their GP for a referral.