Women’s business group Network SK backs Roberts Bakery’s breast cancer campaign

Stockport businesswomen have given their support to a campaign organised by family bread brand Roberts Bakery to help prevent breast cancer for future generations.

Twenty members of Network SK heard from breast cancer survivor and member of the Roberts family Lindsay Occleston, 54.

The mother-of-two is leading a campaign called ‘Use Your Loaf’, which sees the baking business pledge to give £50,000 to help fund ground-breaking research by Manchester-based charity Genesis Breast Cancer Prevention.

Attendees were urged by Lindsay and supporters to pick up a special pink pack of wholemeal bread at their local supermarket to help support Genesis, which is the UK’s only charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer.

With one in nine women now likely to develop the disease in their lifetime – a worsening UK picture affecting over 16,000 women in Stockport alone – Lindsay was at pains to stress the urgency to take action.

Lindsay said: “Every pink pack matters as it will help us to change the long-term approach to breast cancer screening and diagnosis.”

With £25,000 already raised, the company is halfway towards the total needed.

The pioneering research aims to predict a woman’s risk of the disease through the analysis of her gene fragments and will play a key role in a wider research project by Genesis, which could revolutionise the breast screening programme in the UK.

The new process could eventually give women a more accurate risk prediction, based on a combination of their DNA structure, initial mammogram and lifestyle factors – allowing doctors to tailor the most suitable programme to their needs.

Louise Smith, organiser at Network SK, said: “The prevalence of breast cancer means it’s likely to affect everybody at some point in their lives – whether it’s themselves or someone close to them that gets the disease.

“As a networking event with a culture of supporting women, we were keen to hear more about Lindsay’s story and how we could support the campaign.”

Lindsay added: “Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I did very little exercise and probably ate too much of the wrong foods.

“But then I met research dietitian Dr Michelle Harvie and I now follow a healthy, balanced diet.

“I would encourage all women to take a moment to consider their own diet and lifestyle – to check their breasts regularly, do more exercise, eat more healthily and definitely attend screening appointments. It really is so important.”

To help Roberts reach its £50,000 target, pick up your pink pack at a supermarket near you. For further information, visit Roberts Bakery.