READERS and staff at the Swindon Advertiser, Wiltshire Times and Gazette and Herald helped raise an impressive £3,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer last month.

Throughout October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Adver and both weekly titles held a number of fundraising events for the charity.

On October 17, 2p from the sale of every copy of each newspaper was donated to the charity as well as 10 per cent of advertising revenue from the Think Pink supplement.

A pink bake off was also held in the Adver offices, as well as a raffle and a silent auction, and a donation was made by everyone wearing pink.

Group editor Gary Lawrence said: “I’m delighted that we have raised £3,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and I would like to thank all of our readers who picked up a copy of the Adver, Gazette and Wiltshire Times on October 17. Every reader helped contribute to our final total.

“It was great that everybody could come together and do something fun, but it is even better that we were able to raise so much money for a charity that is close to everybody’s hearts.

“This was the second year that we have raised money during the month of October and we are looking forward to doing it all over again next year, and hopefully we can raise even more money.

“I’d encourage other companies to get involved too, no matter how big or small, every penny raised could really make a difference.”

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to stopping women dying from breast cancer.

For more information visit www.breakthrough.org.uk.

The Adver has set up a Just Giving page for anyone who wishes to make a donation to the charity. To help join the fight against breast cancer, visit www.justgiving.com/Swindon-Advertiser.

FACT FILE

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 50,000 women and around 400 men diagnosed each year.
  • It is thought to be caused by a combination of our genes, our lifestyles and life choices, and things in our surrounding environment.
  • There are steps all women can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
  • Services are also available especially for people with a family history of the disease to help them to manage their risk.
  • The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of beating it. This is why Breakthrough Breast Cancer encourages all women to be breast aware through their Touch Look Check campaign.
  • They also encourage women aged 50 and over to attend free NHS breast screening.
  • The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer is improving all the time and more women than ever are surviving the disease.
  • Five out of six women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years.