Local fundraising group hoping to scoop up at awards

5/10/2011 8:24 AM EST

Press release

For immediate release: Tuesday 10 May 2011
Press contact: Marilena Patuto, 020 7749 3720  

Local fundraising group hoping to scoop up at awards

A local fundraising group has been nominated for Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘Regional Group of the Year’ award after raising an incredible £8,700 to help the charity continue funding vital breast cancer research.

The Manchester and Salford Breast Cancer Campaign Group, which was formed in 2007 with three volunteers, achieved phenomenal success last year raising thousands of pounds through holding lots of different events including coffee mornings, a stall at Monton Festival, a Tom Jones Tribute Evening, a ‘rock and roll’ night and being sponsored for running.

The Group also volunteered at national charity-organised events such as the Manchester Megaraid, helping co-ordinate the hundreds of students who arrived from across the UK to collect money for the charity on the city’s streets. Thanks to the enthusiasm of its members, the Group has also inspired local businesses and colleges to help beat breast cancer by taking part in the charity’s largest fundraising event in October each year, wear it pink.

Pat Walkington, chair and founder member of the Manchester and Salford Breast Cancer Campaign Group, said: “I am so proud that we have been nominated for Breast Cancer Campaign’s Regional Group of the Year award. We are a small group with seven members and, as well as fundraising, we have lots of fun and have made new friends. Some of the group have been personally touched by breast cancer so we are delighted to be able to support this charity which funds life-changing research and raises awareness about breast cancer.”

Pamela Goldberg, Breast Cancer Campaign’s Chief Executive said, “Our awards ceremony publicly recognises the amazing achievements and contributions by our fundraisers and supporters over the last 12 months towards Breast Cancer Campaign’s research. Their support is essential to helping us achieve our mission of beating the disease and I wish the Manchester and Salford Group and everyone else who has been nominated the best of luck.”

The Manchester and Salford Breast Cancer Campaign Group will find out if they have won at Breast Cancer Campaign’s awards ceremony on Thursday 19 May 2011 at the House of Lords.

If you want to be in the running for next year’s award or contact your local Group, then contact the charity to find out how you can help beat breast cancer. Visit www.breastcancercampaign.org, call 020 7749 4114 or email  

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 97 research projects, worth over £16.7 million, in 31 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 48,000 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/