The team at Roberts Bakery in Northwich has reached the half way point in its challenge to raise £50,000 to help prevent breast cancer.
Breast cancer survivor Lindsay Occleston, a member of the Roberts family, and chairman of Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention Lester Barr announced reaching the milestone of £25,000 at the Nightingale and Genesis Prevention Centre – based at the University Hospital of South Manchester.
Since October, Roberts’ Every Pink Pack Matters campaign has called for shoppers to pick up one of its special 2.5 million wholemeal loaves in their local supermarket.
The ultimate £50,000 goal will help fund ground-breaking gene research which, in time, could lead to major changes in the UK breast screening service.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with one in nine women developing the disease in their lifetime.
National statistics show that if current trends continue, the number of people battling the disease could increase by 12 per cent over the next 10 years, which is why Genesis’ work is so vital as the UK’s only charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of the disease.
Lester Barr said: “Gene research is an essential part of predicting breast cancer. Changes to the breast screening process will play a key role in identifying those with a high risk, and ultimately, could prevent the disease.
Lindsay said: “We are obviously delighted to reach the £25,000 milestone and we’d like to thank everyone who has picked up a pink pack so far and made it possible. But we’d like to take this opportunity to ask for your continued support to help us reach our target. Every pink pack really does matter if we want to work towards a breast cancer free future for ourselves, our children and generations to come.”
