Through my work with Breast Cancer Now, I feel I’m keeping my daughter Becs alive

What first motivated you to get involved?

In 2003, my youngest child, Rebecca, died of breast cancer at the age of 30, only 11 months after she had been first diagnosed. I had no idea how I was going to cope.

I decided that the devastation of Becs's loss could only be helped by my trying to contribute to a future of progress, research and care for people affected by breast cancer.

I contacted a professor at the breast cancer clinic and said that I had to do something. He suggested I raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer (as it was then). He also asked whether I knew about the Generations Study. I wanted to do anything that would help the future, so I decided to sign up.

How have you taken part in the Generations Study?

Cammilla, my daughter-in-law Joanna and I applied to take part in the Generations Study in 2003. It aims to track 110,000 participants to find the causes of breast cancer, and to understand it better.

The fact that we could be part of such a large, forward-looking study, and one we’d hear from regularly throughout, was amazing. I’m a radiographer by background, so I was interested in it on that level too.

Every 5 years or so, the researchers ask me for updates about my health. They ask me to take a blood sample and ask detailed questions about my health, my exercise, my diet. It’s like a double check on everything every so often. In between, I receive updates about how the study is going from the 2 scientists involved.

There have been exciting updates and breakthroughs, like finding over 300 common genetic changes linked to breast cancer and discovering that exercise can lower your cancer risk.

I also support the Generations Study in an advisory role and by promoting it publicly. I’ve been to a number of events with one of the professors involved to discuss it. Most recently I went on Women’s Hour on BBC radio with a representative from Breast Cancer Now.

It’s an honour to be part of it, and to have started just after Becs died, when we had that feeling of “we have to do anything and everything to help”.

I will probably not be around when this study finishes. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t be doing things for the study and Breast Cancer Now more generally between now and then.

How else have you been involved with Breast Cancer Now?

In the years of being physically without Becs, I have had the privilege of so many opportunities and experiences to take forward Breast Cancer Now's work.

I have learnt and enjoyed so much: attending events at Buckingham Palace and other royal houses and meeting with parliamentarians; speaking at gatherings of all kinds and talking with so many different men and women who have been affected by breast cancer; raising money over many years to help fund vital research and care.

I have also been involved in Breast Cancer Voices, a network that puts the experiences of people affected by breast cancer at the heart of changes in research, policy and care.

I want to do anything to help us reach a time when breast cancer may be lived with and no longer feared.

Could you tell us about your work as a Breast Cancer Voice?

When Breast Cancer Voices started, I had the feeling of a new, positive and varied approach to the charity’s aims. It brought a new look and sense of purpose. It’s been a success in so many ways - for those who contribute to it and to those who listen to it.

One of my main roles as a Voice is speaking at Breast Cancer Now staff inductions. I’ve been attending for about 5 years and do them every 2 months, mostly working with the wonderful Jo and Maddy. I’m absolutely delighted to be involved.

I meet the new staff and tell them about my involvement in Breast Cancer Now and what motivates me. I introduce them to Becs and Christienne in the photo and tell their story.

I feel so privileged to share what I do and talk about Becs with the new staff and to hear about their own connections to breast cancer. There’s always 1 or 2 who’ve had family diagnosed with breast cancer. I always go home with a lot to think about.

Doing the inductions helps staff understand the personal impact of breast cancer and get an idea of what Breast Cancer Now does and the impact that it makes. They’re joining an organisation that works to prevent what happened to Becs from happening now. An organisation that’s vibrant and that reaches across the UK.

I’m so grateful that I can get involved in so many things across the work of the charity. I feel I’m keeping Becs alive.

What would you say to anyone thinking about helping out?

The work of Breast Cancer Now will always need supporters who look to the future with positivity, who think outside the box, who work through the best ways to fundraise and who keep others in their thoughts throughout. People who believe that the words “breast cancer” will, eventually, be less often heard.

So, in short: do it. You can make a difference and help create a better future for people affected like by breast cancer. Like me, like Becs.

I have absolutely no regrets in joining. So, find out about it, its aims and its successes - and join in.