Following last year’s wear it pink event in the Houses of Parliament, we decided this year we’d mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month by returning the event to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and the Senedd in Cardiff.
In this section
Hundreds of politicians from across the UK got involved by wearing it pink, hearing about our work, and publicising the event on social media to encourage others to take part.
Edinburgh
On Thursday 10 October we brought wear it pink back to Holyrood to help Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) learn more about our work and our main priorities in Scotland. We were joined by the First Minister, the Presiding Officer, the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, and party leaders from all political parties for a group photo on the iconic Garden Lobby steps.
MSPs dressed up in pink accessories in support of Breast Cancer Now and learned about breast cancer in their constituency. Turnout was fantastic with around 60% of MSPs joining us to take part! We were joined by Alison Tait, who is living with a secondary breast cancer diagnosis, who highlighted her own experience and why it’s so important the Scottish Government deliver their commitments on breast cancer.
“The Wear It Pink event at the Scottish Parliament was a great way to raise awareness of the issues we’re facing with secondary breast cancer data collection.
I'd not met John Swinney before and I was looking forward to speaking to him to tell him about all the good reasons that the Scottish Government needed to capture data on secondary breast cancer, as we're the only UK nation not doing this. I felt he was attentive and really listened to what I was asking for. He spoke to me about the benefits of making sure that the data was accurate. I couldn't agree more.
I told John about Mandie, who was supposed to join me that day and had sadly passed away two days before the event at only 35 years old. Like all of us Mandie would have been counted when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and again when she died. But no one knew about Mandie while she was living with breast cancer and because of that no one knows if Mandie had the support, options and best help available.”
- Alison Tait
Cardiff
Tuesday 15 October our team in Wales held an equally successful wearit pink event in the Senedd as part of Y Farchnad (the Marketplace).
Over half of the Members of the Senedd joined us and discussed the services we provide in Wales, and how members could engage with constituents about Wear It Pink. We talked to politicians about our calls for earlier diagnosis, improvements to data collection and support for secondary breast cancer patients, and the importance of including breast health and reconstruction in the upcoming Women’s Health Plan.
London
Finally on Wednesday 16, a brilliant afternoon saw MPs from all four nations decked out in pink, helping to raise awareness of our work and encourage their constituents to show their support for Breast Cancer Now.
Over 200 MPs came to support us, a record number with more than double attending compared to last year’s Westminster event! Attendees included Andrew Gwynne the minister for Public Health and Prevention, then Shadow Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, and Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper.
We were joined, by our fantastic supporters Balwinder Nanray, Claire Myerson and Sophie Blake, who shared their personal experiences of breast cancer with MPs, explained our campaigns and talked to MPs about how they could support our campaigns.
“It was a privilege to be invited to the Breast Cancer Now wear it pink day in parliament. As someone living with secondary breast cancer, I was able to converse with so many of the 200 MPs who attended throughout the day about what it’s like to live with secondary breast cancer. I covered the challenges and issues we face and the hope we all have of it one day soon becoming a treatable chronic illness, instead of the terrible incurable disease it still is.
This lead me on to discussing the Enhertu campaign and how this life extending drug has been rejected by NICE to those of us living with Her2Low secondary breast cancer as well as our deep concern regarding the severity modifier. This included the then Shadow Secretary of State Victoria Atkins, who wrote an open “call to action” letter to Wes Streeting about it two days later.
It was a highly productive day and a pleasure to be there with Breast Cancer Now raising awareness of so many vitally important issues”
- Sophie Blake
Northern Ireland
While we didn’t host an event in Stormont this year, there has been plenty of activity in Northern Ireland. We contacted key Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to wear it pink and share on social media, with many posting, including the First and Deputy First Minister! We also provided briefings to all members of the Northern Ireland Health Committee and hosted a stand at the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care conference, providing an opportunity to engage with MLAs on our key policy calls and services.
What's next?
A check of social media following the events, and you’ll find dozens of photos of pink parliamentarians calling for their followers to show their support for Breast Cancer Now and everyone affected by breast cancer. We’ll continue following up with all politicians who showed their support to ensure that tackling breast cancer stays firmly on the UK political agenda.
Find out more about our current campaigns
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