Patron HRH The Prince of Wales
Press Release
SHOCKING RESULTS OF NATIONWIDE SURVEY INTO BREAST
CANCER BY WALK THE WALK CHARITY
EMBARGOED UNTIL 00.01 29.4.15
Over 80% of women in the UK worry about getting breast cancer yet less than 20% check
themselves once a week. Even more shocking half of women aged 18-24 admit to not knowing what
they’re looking for, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by breast cancer charity Walk
the Walk*.
Statistics reveal that four out of every ten (42%) of women in this age bracket (18-24) admit that, if
they found a lump, they’d wait a while rather than go to the doctor immediately. Almost 10% said
they were more scared of losing their hair than dying.
The results come as the charity announce fundraising for Walk the Walk has reached a staggering
£100m since the charity started nearly 20 years ago.
“These are really worrying findings,” said Walk the Walk Founder Nina Barough CBE, who is no
stranger to the disease having fought her own battle with breast cancer in 1996.
“Women of any age, and especially young women, need to check themselves at least once a month
and see a doctor immediately if something is not quite right. It’s very easy to do and only takes a
couple of minutes. If you’re unsure what to do, go to our website where you’ll find all the
information – www.walkthewalk.org It’s crucial to get an early diagnosis as it really can save lives.
Our mantra to women across the UK is: check, check and check again. Our website also suggests
lots of ways to get involved with MoonWalks and SunWalks and to continue the fight against this
dreadful disease.”
The survey revealed:
11% of all respondents don’t bother to check for lumps and changes. If they did detect a lump the
majority (71%) would go to their doctor whereas a quarter of women (26%) said they would wait a
while and sadly a handful would never go. Almost a third of those asked (31%) didn’t know what
they’re looking for when checking for lumps or changes in their breasts.
42% of women aged 25-34 don’t know how to check for lumps.
Continues......
Patron HRH The Prince of Wales
Women living in Yorkshire and Humberside are most worried about getting breast cancer (20%)
compared to those in East Anglia (12%).
Women in East Anglia lead the list of those who never check their breasts with just under 16%
admitting to doing nothing. The North West is a close second (15.29%) with Scotland, the South
East, London, the South West and Yorkshire all with double figure deniers.
A staggering 31.7% (three women in every ten) living in London and at least 20% in other regions
would wait a while before going to the doctors if they found a lump, with 5% saying they wouldn’t
get it checked out at all.
Nina continued:
“Over 350,000 women and men have completed MoonWalking and SunWalking challenges over the
last 19 years, power walking nearly 8 million miles - enough to walk to the moon 32 times! I’m
incredibly proud of their achievements but clearly we need to continue to raise awareness of this
devastating disease.”
*The survey of 2000 women throughout the UK was carried out by OnePoll between 25.3.1515.4.15
Credit: Breast cancer charity Walk the Walk celebrate raising £100m in funds since the
charity launched nearly 20 years ago. Visit: www.walkthewalk.org
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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Walk the Walk has granted funds for 557 Scalp Coolers in 212 hospitals across the UK.
Scalp Coolers are amazing machines which help many chemotherapy patients to keep their
hair during treatment.
Walk the Walk is a major funder of Breast Cancer Campaign’s Tissue Bank, the UK’s
first ever national breast cancer tissue bank, which is a vital resource of breast cancer tissue
for researchers across the UK and Ireland.
Walk the Walk has helped fund Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Generations Study, the
largest and most comprehensive investigation ever to be undertaken into the causes of
breast cancer. Over 100,000 women will be monitored over the next 40 years. The latest
Walk the Walk grant to Breakthrough Breast Cancer will fund research into secondary
breast cancer, an area which has received less funding in the past. .
Walk the Walk has made a grant to the Medical Detection Dogs charity for a
revolutionary project for detecting breast cancer. Women donate breath samples, which are
used for research and for training dogs to sniff out the disease.
Walk the Walk is the principal funder of two Maggie’s Centres in Scotland – Maggie’s
Gartnavel in Glasgow and the new centre being built in Larbert, bringing extra support to
people with cancer in these areas.
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Walk the Walk granted funds to renovate a ward and the Mammography Unit as well as the
building of a new theatre at the Breast Cancer Institute in Edinburgh.
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Walk the Walk was a major funder of the new Mobile Support Unit run by the Welsh
cancer charity Tenovus. The unit delivers lymphoedema treatments to patients across
Wales. Lymphoedema is a condition often caused by cancer treatment.
Patron HRH The Prince of Wales
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Walk the Walk has made a number of grants to the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre,
which pioneers the Bristol Approach, advocating healthy choices as a way of living with
cancer.
FASCINATING FACTS
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350,000 fantastic walkers have taken part in Walk the Walk events
Collectively the walkers have walked nearly 8 million miles! This means they have walked
to the Moon 32 times!
Walk the Walkers have walked in London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Bristol, Southampton,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Iceland, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Nijmegen, Berlin, China, Peru, San
Diego, New York and Florida
The youngest walker was 2 months old when she took part in The SunWalk London and
the oldest walker will be 90 when he takes part in The MoonWalk London
The Pink Tent at The MoonWalk London is the size of 2 football pitches end to end
Over 30,000 volunteers have given up their time to help at Walk the Walk events
In 2006 Nina received a CBE in the New Year Honours for her services to Healthcare
In 2008 Nina was presented with a Pride of Britain Award, being named Fundraiser of the
Year
In 2008 Nina was also awarded the Good Housekeeping Woman of The Year Outstanding
Achievement Award, celebrating her courage, spirit and accomplishments
Nina also has the honour of being Godmother of one Celebrity Cruise’s Solstice
ships, Equinox. All the Solstice godmothers were chosen because they had each been
affected by breast cancer
The hottest challenge was The MoonWalk New York City in a heat wave and the coldest
challenge was The Arctic Marathon at -30.
For further information on Walk the Walk and for photographs contact: Jennifer McAllister.
Tel: 01483 741430
For further information on survey results contact: Nikki Johnceline Publicity.
Tel: 020 8688 6743 (m) 07770 925844.
ENDS