Local surgeon’s marathon effort to beat breast cancer
Press Release For immediate release: 22 February 2011 Press contact: Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724, Email: lgarrahan@breastcancercampaign.org Local surgeon’s marathon effort to beat breast cancer Budding runner Laura Johnson from Richmond has laced up her running shoes to train for the Virgin London Marathon in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign. The NHS breast surgical trainee will join thousands of runners on the starting line on Sunday 17 April to support her mother, Emma, who was treated for breast cancer 10 years ago, and has recently been diagnosed with a related metastatic cancer at the age of 57. Laura, who is also undertaking breast cancer research at Kings College London, based at Guy’s Hospital, said: “My mother’s recent diagnosis has come as such a shock to me and my family and like so many others we are hurt, confused and desperate for a cure. In my role as a breast surgeon, I find myself delivering the devastating news of a breast cancer diagnosis to patients, and with the help of the whole team, we offer many the chance of a cure.” She added: “The research I undertake at Kings College London is made possible solely from the generosity of several charities and I see firsthand the difference it’s making in our understanding of breast cancer, so now this is my chance to give something back. Running the London Marathon for Breast Cancer Campaign will help me to help others by raising money to try and win the battle with breast cancer for the good of my patients and in particular, my mum. I hope lots of people will dig deep to sponsor me for this challenge and help the charity continue funding vital research. To help Laura reach her fundraising target of £1,600 please visit www.justgiving.com/Laura-Johnson3 and donate what you can. This year around 48,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK and sadly approximately 12,000 will die from this disease. So if you are already training for this year’s marathon and would like to make a difference to the lives of all those affected by breast cancer, please join Laura on Campaign’s team. For more information, please call the Events team on 0207 749 4114 or visit www.breastcancercampaign.org If you have your own place there is no minimum sponsorship amount and each runner will receive a fundraising pack including a Breast Cancer Campaign running vest, sponsorship forms and lots of support from the charity on the day. Ends Picture caption: Laura Johnson 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 84 research projects, worth over £15.9 million, in 31 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 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year - that’s 130 a day • Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org • Read Chief Executive Pamela Goldberg’s blog http://pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.com/
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