King’s Pretty in Pink for Breast Cancer Charity
The King’s School looked pretty in pink as it spent a week raising money for Prevent Breast Cancer, a charity based at the Nightingale Breast Cancer Unit at Wythenshawe Hospital.
The King’s campus on Prestbury Road, Macclesfield, was bathed in pink lighting every night, the swimming school turned pink for the week and glowing pink bows adorned the trees that line the school’s central boulevard.
Even King’s all-conquering rugby team got in on the act, swapping their shorts and gum shields for pink tutus, while staff and pupils were encouraged to exchange their royal blue for something with the rose tinted hue.
Breast cancer is the UK’s largest cause of death in middle-aged women with 153 women receiving what can be a chilling and life changing diagnosis every day.
The Nightingale Breast Cancer Unit at Wythenshawe Hospital is Europe’s first ever purpose-built combined breast cancer prevention and treatment centre, both diagnosing the disease and conducting research into prediction and prevention for tomorrow’s women and, in one per cent of cases, for men too.
Patron of the Charity and a King’s School former parent, Margo Cornish, said: “I am proud to support this charity because I believe that through their research they will gradually diminish the number of women affected by breast cancer. The statistics speak for themselves; if Cancer Research UK are right and rates keep rising, around 1 in 6 women will be affected in the future.”
Margo added: “Going into schools and speaking to young people is very valuable. It’s not just the fundraising that is important, getting young people into the habit of checking themselves from their late teens will definitely have an impact on detection and survival rates going forward.”
She continued: “Not many people can say that they don’t know someone affected by breast cancer so our target audience is widespread. All genders, anyone with breast tissue, can be at risk. We asked the students to take the checking guide home with them to remind other family members.”
Last year, the Prevent Breast Cancer charity raised over a stunning £1.5 million, which was used to fund research, awareness and operational costs.
Helen Broadley, Principal of King’s Senior Division, said: “Our pupils, parents and staff – many of whom have been affected by this disease – pulled together to raise over £1,000 in one week which will help Prevent Breast Cancer in their aim of predicting, preventing and treating the UK’s most common cancer.”
