Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we took our annual wear it pink event to the Senedd in Cardiff, the Scottish parliament, and finally Westminster!
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.
Wear it pink highlights from our socials
You can also see our round up of wear it pink events on LinkedIn.
Wales – Senedd
On Tuesday 30 September, we turned the Senedd pink, with our annual wear it pink photocall in the Welsh parliament.
Half of the Members of the Senedd attended this year, donning our pink accessories and hearing all about our work in Wales.
We got to tell them about our No Time To Waste Wales campaign, which is urging the Welsh government to give Breast Test Wales and Public Health Wales the resources and support they need to get more women screened.
We were so pleased to welcome Nicola Willis-Sheppard from Newport to the Senedd, whose breast cancer was discovered following a routine mammogram.
I was honoured to be asked to attend the Breast Cancer Now, wear it pink day in the Senedd. The No time to Waste Wales campaign is a topic very close to my heart. Meeting the members of the Senedd and talking to them was so lovely and also interesting to hear their stories. Cancer effects everyone. Attending routine screening is paramount and can save lives, it saved mine.
Nicola Willis-Sheppard
Among the attendees were the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and all opposition party leaders, as well as the Llywydd and Dirprwy Lywydd (Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer) of the Senedd.
Scotland – Holyrood
On Thursday 2 October it was Scotland’s turn as we headed to Holyrood.
Over half of the Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) joined us to learn about our policy priorities for breast cancer in Scotland, including the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
We were also joined by our incredible patient advocates Alison Tait and Jen Hardy, who shared their experiences of living with secondary breast cancer and why it's so important that the Scottish government deliver on their commitment to improve data collection on secondary breast cancer.
The following week, led by Clare Adamson MSP, MSPs took to the debate chamber to acknowledge wear it pink’s vital impact for raising awareness and recognising that breast cancer isn’t a done deal!
It also provided the opportunity to remember the late Christina McKelvie MSP who supported our wear it pink event in the Scottish parliament for more than a decade, even before her own diagnosis.
Northern Ireland
Between 15 and 16 October we attended NICON, the NHS Confederation conference in Northern Ireland, talking to health and social care leaders to champion the needs of people affected by breast cancer.
At our stand, we shared our Northern Ireland wear it pink briefing which provided an overview of data across the breast cancer pathway in Northern Ireland. It also called for tackling inequalities in breast screening and highlighted the need to drive forward the breast services review.
On wear it pink day, Friday 24 October, First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA, proudly wore pink and shared messages of solidarity and awareness with their followers on social media - reaching thousands of people across Northern Ireland.
Their support sent a powerful message: breast cancer touches lives in every community, and together, we can make a difference.
See the Northern Ireland Executive's post supporting our #wearitpink campaign.
England – Westminster
Finally, we brought our wear it pink event to parliament at Westminster on Wednesday 29 October.
Over 110 MPs from across the UK joined us to learn more about issues facing people living with secondary breast cancer, including Health Minister Ashley Dalton, Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper, Health Spokesperson Helen Morgan and Cancer Spokesperson Helen Maguire.
We were delighted that the Health Minister agreed to meet us to discuss the issue of metastatic data collection following the event. We discussed how vital it was for this issue to be included in the upcoming cancer plan for England.
We were joined by 3 of our incredible supporters - Claire Myerson, Laura Price and Sophie Blake. They spoke to MPs about their experiences with secondary breast cancer, including why it’s so important that the government improves access to treatments and commits to collecting data on secondary breast cancer.
Sophie Blake, a supporter, said:
“It was an honour to be invited back to the Breast Cancer Now wear it pink day in parliament as a patient advocate for secondary breast cancer.
It was a fantastic opportunity to talk to MPs. A few shared that they still weren’t fully aware of what secondary breast cancer is and that’s exactly why days like this matter so much.
Being able to raise awareness, share experiences, and talk openly about the realities of living with incurable breast cancer felt hugely important.
We highlighted the urgent need for better data collection and Breast Cancer Now’s #MoreTimeToLive campaign calling for urgent improvements to access to life-extending treatments - because everyone living with incurable breast cancer deserves to be properly counted, supported and cared for.
Days like this really do make a difference. I’m so grateful to Breast Cancer Now for continuing to amplify and champion our voices and push for the change we need.”
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who invited their MP, MSs or MSPs to wear it pink in parliament this year. We really appreciate your support – these events would not be such a success without it!
What's next?
A quick check on 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.
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