Julie's story
My name’s Julie. I’ve been fundraising for Breast Cancer Now and the Mersey West Lancashire NHS Hospital Trust.
West Lancs is where I had my own breast cancer treatment back in 2012, and it’s also where I work.
I’ve just celebrated 13 years cancer-free after having chemotherapy, a mastectomy, radiotherapy and a breast reconstruction under their care.
I first thought about fundraising when I returned to work after finishing my initial treatment.
The care I received was exceptional, and it felt like the perfect way to say thank you to all those involved.
I started by giving out Smarties tubes to colleagues, friends and family, asking people to fill them with 20p pieces. I put labels on the tubes and decorated them with jewels, which affectionately became known as “Jules’ Tubes.” They were such a success!
At first, I thought that would be the end of my fundraising. But a few months later, I lost 3 people who were very close to me – 2 friends to secondary breast cancer and my friend’s husband to pancreatic cancer. This inspired me to bring Jules’ Tubes back for a second time. By then, the idea had spread around the hospital and reached many departments across our Trust, so everyone wanted to get involved.
My family, friends and work colleagues have been so helpful with my fundraising efforts, and I’m in awe of their continued support.
I took part in Breast Cancer Now’s £1,000 Challenge twice, which meant we could have my friends’ names – Angela and Dawn – added to the memory wall at the Toby Robins Research Centre.
In 2018, we were invited to a special open day there. We had an amazing day looking around, seeing the names, eating cake, drinking tea, performing small experiments and listening to stories about others who had been taken far too soon.
Now, I try to raise awareness of breast cancer every year, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
In my hometown of St Helens, we have a well-known bridge called the Steve Prescott Bridge. It’s dedicated to Steve Prescott, a rugby league player for the Saints, who had a rare type of cancer called Pseudomyxoma Peritonei. The bridge changes colour throughout the year to support different causes. 10 years ago, when I donated to Breast Cancer Now, I asked the Steve Prescott Foundation and our local council if the bridge could be lit up pink. It was such an honour when they agreed.
We brought together the families of my 3 friends who had passed, and our local youth Brass Band played as the lights came on. It was a very emotional moment. The bridge has continued to turn pink every October to raise awareness of breast cancer.
Since then, I’ve been trying to get more Merseyside landmarks turned pink in honour of breast cancer awareness.
I’ve successfully managed to light up the Mersey Gateway Bridge, the Greystone Footbridge over the M62, St George's Hall, the Cunard Building, Radio City Tower, the Liver Building and Liverpool Town Hall. And I’m not stopping now.
In 2025, I contacted Everton Football Club to see if they would light up their magnificent Hill Dickinson stadium pink this October.
They replied with a resounding yes, marking the first time the new stadium had ever been lit up for breast cancer awareness.
It was a real “pick me up off the floor” moment, and something I’m so proud of. I hope it puts a big smile on your faces, as it did for me.
Ready to change the future?
Join thousands of people across the UK and Wear It Pink this October. Raise vital funds to help change the lives of people living with or affected by breast cancer.