I loved volunteering at a Pink Ribbon Walk

Can you tell us about your connection to breast cancer?

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was doing my GCSEs. At the end of my first year of university, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and died in 2015, just after I’d started my final year.

I went on to work for Breast Cancer Now, and I feel so proud to be a part of a charity supporting people affected by breast cancer.

Why did you decide to volunteer at a Pink Ribbon Walk?

I work in Breast Cancer Now’s volunteering team, so I see the incredible impact volunteers make every day. It made me want to make a difference myself. So, I decided to support Pink Ribbon Walkers on one of the walks. I asked my friends if they'd be keen to help, and 6 of us went along together. It was a special thing to do with friends.

What did you do on the day?

Some of the Breast Cancer Now team gave us a briefing. They kitted us out in orange t-shirts and dropped us off at the marshalling points and snack station. They tasked us with setting up a gazebo, which gave a lot of laughs. Once we’d got it up, we laid out the snacks and chopped up orange slices, which were very popular with the walkers.

Our role was to keep the snack station topped up and cheer on the walkers. Many people took a break at our snack station, where we could chat with them and let them know they were over halfway. For the walkers, I think spotting a volunteer cheering them on was a real motivation when they’d been walking for hours.

After the last walkers passed us, we got picked up in a minibus to the finish line, where we stayed to cheer people on. For me, it was a real highlight of the day. You could see the emotion on people’s faces as they walk over that line, from relief to pride. We clapped, cheered and blew whistles, giving them all a warm welcome. At the finish line, you could see groups of friends holding hands as they completed the walk, and walkers who'd completed it in memory of a loved one. Someone was holding up a sign for her mum who had just finished chemo and was taking part.

What did you enjoy most about volunteering?

Seeing the difference we made to the walkers was amazing. We could reassure them they were going the right way, keep them topped up with snacks and celebrate them as they crossed the finish line. There’s a real feeling of community at the Pink Ribbon Walks, whether you’re walking, volunteering or supporting a loved one. Everyone has their own reason for being there, but you’ve all come together to make a difference for people affected by breast cancer.  

What would you say to someone considering volunteering?

Volunteering at a Pink Ribbon Walk is a fantastic way to spend a day. You can get friends together and do something meaningful while hanging out and having fun. Or you can volunteer by yourself and meet new people. Lots of volunteers come on their own and you get chatting with people really quickly. You don’t need any special skills - just turn up and help support an incredible day.