Peggy’s Christmas walk to beat breast cancer
Press Release For immediate use: 30 November 2009 Press contact: Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724, Email: lgarrahan@breastcancercampaign.org Peggy’s Christmas walk to beat breast cancer Local walker and Soroptimist, Peggy Simson, from Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire will lace up her walking boots on Sunday 6 December to take part with her friends in Breast Cancer Campaign’s annual Winter Wonderland Friendship Walk. The Company Secretary will walk six miles on the festive stroll in Henley-on-Thames, and hopes to raise£200 in sponsorship from friends and family. Peggy decided to take part because several of her friends and relations had been treated for breast cancer. Fortunately they have all had successful treatment and are well again, but the diagnosis was a huge shock to each of them. Peggy said: “I want to help raise awareness of the need for more research into the causes of breast cancer as I know several friends who have suffered with this and Soroptimists have walked in many parts of the country to raise funds for this charity. I hope lots of people will join us on the day to raise much needed funds for vital breast cancer research.” In 2008, nearly 150 walkers stepped up to beat breast cancer and raised an impressive £5,000 for research. Kelly Walton, Events Assistant at Breast Cancer Campaign, said: “Last year we had a fabulous turnout and everyone was dressed in festive fancy dress. We’re thrilled to be back in Henley this December to continue spreading our Christmas cheer around the community. The walk is a great excuse to get family and friends together while supporting this very worthwhile cause, so please sign up and support the 46,000 people that are sadly diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.” Registration is £10 for adults and free for children under 16. Everyone is encouraged to wear fancy dress and raise sponsorship for the walk, which starts at 12pm at the Henley-on-Thames Youth Centre. The walk then continues along the Thames path and around Remenham Hill and Hambledon Lock. Each walker will receive a goody bag, medal and post walk festive refreshments and there will be a prize for the best costume. Breast Cancer Campaign currently funds three projects in Oxford worth more than £300,800 and the money raised from this walk will help fund a project at the University of Oxford. Professor Leonard is looking to develop a new way of treating breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body using a virus that is able to target breast cancer cells but leave healthy cells intact. If this technique is successful it could lead to new breast cancer treatments with fewer side effects. By walking with us this Christmas, you can help us take a step closer to beating breast cancer. If you would like to take part, please call the Events Team on 020 7749 4106 or visit www.friendshipwalks.co.uk. If you can’t make the walk this year, don’t forget to tell your family and friends to support us. Ends 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 115 research projects, worth over £15.8 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/
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