Lib Dems back Breakthrough Breast Cancer campaign

1.49.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 7th May 2004

Raising money and awareness, Sarah Ludford joins female Islington councillors promoting the Breakthrough Breast Cancer campaign

Islington's female Lib Dem councillors and Lib Dem Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford today showed their support for the charity fashion campaign 'Fashion Targets Breast Cancer' by donning the campaign T-Shirts on the steps of the Town Hall to raise money and awareness of breast cancer.

Millions of pounds has been raised for Breakthough Breast Cancer through the sale of the famous T-Shirt, promoted this year by Elle Macpherson. Breast cancer is on the increase in the UK with more than 40,000 women diagnosed each year and 13,000 dying from the disease.

Parliamentary spokeswoman for the Liberal Democrats in Islington South and Finsbury Cllr Bridget Fox said:

"Over 1,000 women in the UK die from breast cancer every month and most people know someone who's been affected. Breast cancer screening rates in Islington are still much lower than the average across the country so we want to do all we can to help raise awareness of this disease and encourage all women to go and find out more information about this and be screened."

Baroness Ludford added:

"Simply buying a Fashion Targets Breast Cancer T-shirt raises money to help Breakthrough beat the disease. We're proof that you don't have to be a supermodel like Elle Macpherson to wear this T-shirt, help raise money and support this important campaign!"

Councillor Joan Coupland, who worked on the first breast-screening pilot, said:

"Having worked on the national breast screening programme I know just how much breast cancer can impact on women's lives. That's why it's so important for women to be aware of this issue and to go and get checked regularly."

Related Link:

Visit the Breakthrough Breast Cancer campaign website.