Now’s the time to sign up if you want to take part in ‘wear it pink’ during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast cancer awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and is a very important time for charities such as Breast Cancer Campaign. It is a research charity which looks at different areas of the science of breast cancer, including how to develop new treatments for people with the disease, which can be life threatening. It’s not just women who are affected. Men can be diagnosed with breast cancer too, although it is more rare. Right now there are 48,000 people diagnosed every year. That’s around 130 people a day, and many people will know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, whether it be a relative or friend.

Funding and research

There is no cure for breast cancer, but Breast Cancer Campaign want to change this by funding innovative world class research which could lead to scientific breakthroughs and help save the lives of 12,000 people who currently die every year.

Research takes a long time and is very expensive, so it is important that charities such as ours exist to continue raising money so they can carry on their vital work.

The “Wear it Pink” event

That’s why every year Breast Cancer Campaign holds a key fundraising event called wear it pink day. Hundreds of thousands of people from across the nation will be donating money to wear it pink, either at work, in school, at home, anywhere! The event raises around £2.5m each year which can fund around 12 research projects.

Over a thousand schools across the UK take part in wear it pink and, last year, schools alone helped to raise a whopping £300,000 by holding cake sales, fashion shows, collecting pennies and of course, paying to wear pink clothes to school!

Rebecca Guy, wear it pink Events Manager, said: “There are so many fun ways to get involved, whether you discreetly wear pink socks, dye your hair (only with your parents and teachers’ permission!) or go for full pink fancy dress. Your £2 donation for wearing pink will help us to make this wear it pink day the pinkest yet and raise lots of money to help fund vital research into a cure for breast cancer”.

Here are some of the students and schools that took part last year...

Celeste Crosbie, 9, Pembridge Hall School – winner of Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘School of the Year’ Award 2010

“It was so exciting seeing everyone at school dressed in pink – rather than school uniform. I loved wearing my pink wig. Everyone joined in – our head teacher Mr Evans wore pink socks! I have never seen so many pink cakes in my life. It was amazing. I didn’t know which one to choose. I felt so proud when Pembridge Hall won the Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘School of the Year Award’ and Mr Evans was invited to the House of Lords to receive it. Due to wear it pink day I now know much more about breast cancer – and it is a charity I hope to support throughout my life. I can’t wait for the next wear it pink day in October and am already planning my outfit.”

Helen Maresca, Headmistress of Norfolk House School

“Last year the staff and pupils at Norfolk House School wore pink for Breast Cancer Campaign and raised over £5,000. It was a really fun day and the children enjoyed wearing non uniform and dressing up in pink! We also had pink cakes and walked a pink marathon around the school. The total walked by all the children and their mums was a complete marathon – all 26 miles (42km)! I recommend all schools take part in wear it pink as it’s great fun for everyone and such a fantastic cause. I am so proud of all the children and their brilliant pink fundraising efforts!”

Jack Mynor, 5, Herne Hill School, London 

“Last year my brother Ben and I took part in wear it pink day at Herne Hill School. It was a really fun day and everybody dressed up in funny pink clothes and helped raise money for breast cancer. Even the teachers wore pink! Ben and I had matching pink wigs and everyone wanted to try them on. Our school raised over £650 to help people with breast cancer – I’d love to do it again this year!”

The official wear it pink day is 28 October 2011, but schools can take part at any time in October.

Ask your teacher to sign up at www.wearitpink.co.uk. They’ll receive a free pack for your school, including bunting, stickers and a collection box.