The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) UK & Ireland celebrated the 32nd annual Breast Cancer Campaign with an event at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday (15 October).
The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Director Hannah Tan was on location at the event, which welcomed MPs, influencers, brand partners, breast cancer survivors and breast cancer organisations from all over the UK.
The event was held in partnership with Sharon Hodgson MP alongside several breast cancer organisations, including Breast Cancer Now, Look Good Feel Better, Future Dreams House, Coppafeel and House of Hope.
ELC has been at the forefront of efforts to create a breast-cancer-free world since Evelyn H. Lauder co-created the pink ribbon and started The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign (The Campaign) in 1992.
Together, The Campaign and The Estée Lauder Companies Charitable Foundation have funded more than US$131 million for lifesaving global research, education and access to medical services with more than US$103 million funding medical research through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Welcoming guests, Hodgson said: “ELC has been deeply committed to raising awareness, inspiring action and supporting breast cancer research, education and medical research through the efforts of its employees’ consumers and partners, many of which are here today.
“The solidarity and support displayed in this room is truly special,” she added. “A lot of the women in this room today have a personal connection to breast cancer in some way.
“Today, more and more young women are being impacted by breast cancer. In fact, 10,000 women under the age of 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK, which is why moments like today’s event are so important in shining a light on this terrible disease.”
Hodgson shared that the loss of her mother-in-law to the disease in 1997 led to her involvement in the breast cancer advocacy campaign. She said: “I wanted to make certain that early diagnosis, better and more effective treatment are readily available in the UK to create less heartbreak for families.
“I’m pleased to say that this Labour Government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ Fund will see £170 million a year to arm the NHS with equipment and new technologies to cut waiting times and speed up treatments.
“By the end of this Parliamentary Term, the Labour Government hopes that 23% of patients will be seen by cancer specialists within two weeks with a maximum of a one-month wait for all cancers.”
ELC UK & Ireland President Sue Fox added: “I’m very honoured to be here with all of you as someone who has had to deal with a breast cancer diagnosis twice. I know first-hand the huge difference it makes to get support in navigating the physical and psychological aspects of the journey.
“Here in the UK, The Campaign and the ELC Charitable Foundation have funded £16 million worth of UK grants through The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
“The Campaign motto continues to be ‘Beautifully United to End Breast Cancer’ and today we’re as united as ever in raising awareness and supporting research, education and access to medical services.”
Fox also announced that the ELC Breast Cancer Campaign is giving a grant to the House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated breast cancer wellbeing and support centre. Set to open its doors in January 2025, its mission is to improve the quality of life of people impacted by breast cancer in Scotland.
A couple of years ago, ELC funded research in the UK showing that eight in ten women aren’t checking their breasts regularly. Self-checking was lowest among South Asian, Black and young women in the UK, groups which have seen an increase in breast cancer cases.
ELC UK & Ireland Breast Cancer Ambassadors that help drive awareness in these under-represented groups include TV personality Dr Zoe Williams; South Asian Supernovas Co-Founder Kreena Dhiman; Black Women Rising Founder Leanne Pero MBE; and GirlsvsCancer Founder Lauren Mahon, all breast cancer survivors.
Dhiman said: “I was diagnosed when I was 33 and really struggled finding representation, understanding and awareness of the disease within my community and so my advocacy started a while ago and continues to this day.
“In the last year, we have created a community within the South Asian breast cancer space and I feel that for the first time my community have somewhere to go when they are diagnosed.”
Mahon added: “We are young women who have survived the disease and there are many women in this room who are living with a stage four diagnosis, a diagnosis that could have been prevented. To be on a campaign that has global reach and allows us to reach younger women and encouraging them to self-check is something that I’m truly grateful for.”
“My community continue to be some of the worst statistics when it comes to breast cancer care,” Pero added: “Self-checking is lowest among Black women.
“Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer than our white counterparts. Black women, when diagnosed, are usually diagnosed with the most aggressive cancer. Black women are presenting with breast cancer a lot younger, at 30s and 40s, below the screening age.
“The Campaign message ‘Beautifully United’ is really the truth, because in this work there are no heroes because it must be done by all of us, together.”
Breast Care is Self-Care
Through its powerful Breast Care is Self-Care message, ELC aims to inspire and educate women across generations to become advocates for their breast health, reframing selfcare to include proactive prevention and early detection measures.
Breast Care is Self-Care exemplifies the evolved focus of the campaign to educate women, particularly younger women, to become advocates for their own breast health.
This year’s campaign is communicated through a compelling new video and digital campaign. The video features female employees in New York sharing their views on the link between breast health and selfcare.
ELC said its aim is to reshape how women approach selfcare, urging them to include breast health as an integral part of their wellness routines.
A dedicated website offers essential tools and resources to understand breast health, including how to recognise potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of both screening and healthy habits.
The site encourages women to be proactive about their health, offering information on dense breast tissue, performing self-exams and accessing a personalised breast cancer risk assessment.
Access the video and find out more here. ✈
