Yacht skipper to run and set sail for breast cancer research
Press Release For immediate release: 28 September 2009 Press contact: Louise Garrahan, Media Relations Officer, Breast Cancer Campaign, DD 0207 749 3724, Email: lgarrahan@breastcancercampaign.org Yacht skipper to run and set sail for breast cancer research International racing yacht skipper Em Pontin from Hamble, Hampshire will be swapping her deck shoes for trainers as she prepares to take on the Bupa Great South Run in aid of breast cancer research. Em decided to join Breast Cancer Campaign’s Jigsaw Runners team for the race on Sunday 25 October after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2006. After having a mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy, a prophylactic right mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, Em is now doing well. She said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer just before I was due to skipper a transatlantic yacht race so it was an incredibly difficult time for me. But thankfully, after having my treatment, I’m now over the worst of it. Running for Campaign is such a good cause and I know the money I raise will help the charity continue its mission of funding vital medical research into this disease.” To help Em reach her target of £500 visit www.justgiving.com/emmapontin and donate what you can. In October 2010 Em is planning to lead a team of four professional sailors and a total of 36 breast cancer survivors, selected from members of the public, on a round-the-world sailing challenge bringing global awareness of this disease together with raising much needed funds. The message that these brave survivors will deliver to others suffering or recovering from breast cancer is one of hope and by rising to the challenge of taking on the world’s oceans we hope others will be inspired to rise to their own personal challenges. The 10-month breastcancerroundtheworld challenge is to be broken down into legs and is set to raise thousands of pounds for two charities who played an enormous part in her own personal battle, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care. Em is looking for companies to sponsor her charitable mission. She added: “Breast cancer is an indiscriminate disease that continues to touch countless lives around the world. Sponsorship of this challenge provides a wonderful opportunity for one or more organisations to make a genuine difference to the lives of many breast cancer sufferers and their families worldwide”. If you are a company and would like to get behind Em, please email her at breastcancerroundtheworld@yahoo.co.uk ENDS Picture caption: Em Pontin 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 101 research projects, worth over £14.2 million, in 41 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
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