The Fighting to be Heard Foundation functions with 100% volunteers; there are no paid employees, and the majority are Secondary Breast Cancer patients. We will always be a Voluntarily led organisation.
We can’t fight for our lives. We are incurable. We are fighting to be heard. Fighting for a voice for the 55,000 patients living with secondary breast cancer in the UK.
In September 2021, 20 women joined together in solidarity to create an awareness campaign. Strangers from across the UK, united by their diagnosis with incurable secondary breast cancer.
Secondary breast cancer is often described as the ‘forgotten form’ of breast cancer, even though it is estimated in a recent audit that there are over 57,000 people living with metastatic (secondary) breast cancer in the UK.
At the heart of the campaign was a powerful, emotive image shot by world renowned photographers Sane Seven. It portrayed the story of the 20 women, hands bound, hanging their gloves in a fight that they physically cannot win yet there was a shared desire to use their voices collectively to ‘fight’ for a voice for the secondary breast cancer community.
With the support of a generous media donation from Clear Channel UK, the campaign was rolled out across the country raising much needed awareness of this largely unknown disease.
Brought together by fellow patient Lisa Fleming and advocate Kathryn Orr, the campaign was initially intended to raise much needed awareness for a UK based secondary breast cancer charity. However, the bond between the women involved in the campaign developed into real life friendships and now, united as one, the faces behind the campaign will be launching the Fighting to be Heard Foundation this spring.
The stark reality of the disease is highlighted by the tragic passing of five of the women since the original image was shot. The launch of the Foundation will honour the lives of Emily Roberts (30), Suzanne Williamson (41), Cathy Snape (56), Vicky Keating (32) and Sally Nyland (46).
With the rising costs as a result of the UK’s cost of living crisis, a recent study commissioned by Macmillan Cancer Support reported that nearly a quarter (24%) of people with cancer have had to cut costs either by buying less food or making fewer meals, including 26% of those currently having treatment.
It is hoped that the new Foundation will not only continue the women’s quest to raise awareness, but also help in some way to ease the financial pressure felt by those living with secondary breast cancer in the UK as they continue to Fight to be Heard.
Nearly a quarter of people with cancer have had to cut costs either by buying less food or making fewer meals
Source: Macmillan Cancer Support
