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In 1986, the actress Toby Robins died of breast cancer
aged just 55. Her husband, Bill Freedman,
and their family looked carefully at the issue of breast
cancer, only to find that the UK had one of
the highest mortality rates in the world, with 15,000
women dying from the disease every year.
After speaking to surgeons, scientists and every
cancer charity in the country, they discovered that
there was no organisation in the UK devoted entirely
to breast cancer research.
In 1991, Breakthrough Breast Cancer was founded
and an appeal was started to raise the funds to build
a research centre specifically focused on breast cancer.
We would need £15 million and the help and support
of thousands to make it happen.
In 1990, the young businesswoman Mary-Jean Mitchell Green
died of breast cancer aged just 38. Before she died,
she created a foundation to fund breast cancer research
and after her death £1.3 million was given to the appeal
by her husband Peter and her two young sons.
The Breakthrough £1,000 Challenge was launched,
asking 15,000 people to each raise £1,000.
Avon Cosmetics, Breakthrough's longest corporate
supporter, launched its Breast Cancer Crusade, and
raised £1 million for Breakthrough in just one day.
By 1996, countless companies, inviduals, trusts and
celebrities had come together to raise funds for the cause.
Fashion Targets Breast Cancer launched
and the t shirt became a powerful statement of
the fight against the disease, raising over £400,000.
In 1999, Breakthrough hit its £15 million target and
the Breakthrough Reserch Centre was opened by the
Prince of Wales.
Breakthrough started campaigning for improvements
in breast cancer services and treatments, ensuring
the voices of women affected by the disease were
heard by the NHS and national goverment. We began
educating women in the UK to recognise the warning
signs of breast cancer, as early diagnosis offers the
best chance of survival.
New fundraising partnerships emerged, with some
of the best known high street names taking our
message to their customers. Twenty years on, the
impact of our work has been outstanding.
Our biggest breakthrough was developing a new
drug known as a PARP inhibitor. The drug targets
tumours directly, while leaving healthy cells alone, so
patients have fewer side effects. Our discovery has
led to more than 40 clinical trials worldwide.
We launched the Breakthrough Generations Study,
studying 100,000 women over 40 years, resulting
in the most reliable information on why women
develop breast cancer. We secured a commitment
from the government of a maximum two-week wait
from referral to first hospital appointment.
We regularly reach three quarters of the UK's
population with our TLC - Touch Look Check - health
message, promoting the signs and symptoms of
breast cancer.
We began our work in Scotland, opening the
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit in
Edinburgh and campaigning for improvements in
Scottish healthcare for women affected by breast
cancer. We fund 25% of the breast cancer research
in the UK, including over 270 scientists in the
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre and
two research units elsewhere in the UK.
Our work is only possible due to the generosity of
the public. We need to raise £20 million a year to
continue our work. With commitment and support
we're confident that we can stop women dying from
some types of breast cancer within the next 10 years.