Our Light Pink Mission

A heads up that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month – a cause very close to our hearts. In the run up to that, we want to talk about why breast cancer awareness is so important, the work we do with our charity partner Future Dreams, and what actions we can all take to make a difference.

Undiagnosed Breast Cancer

One big reason to keep raising awareness of breast cancer is that the disease is often diagnosed late, which has a devastating impact on women’s lives and health.

• In 2021, Breast Cancer Now (The research and care charity) estimated nearly 11,000 people could be living with undiagnosed breast cancer in the UK due to disruptions to breast cancer services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2019, Breast Cancer Now reported that thousands of people experienced ‘avoidable delays’ in breast cancer diagnoses, with many visiting their GP multiple times before being diagnosed with breast cancer. On top of that, 24% of women who had previously been treated for breast cancer had visited their GP three or more times before being diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer. Read more about diagnosis here

It is so important to ensure that more people are aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and that we all check our breasts regularly so we know what to look out for. Many breast cancer charities have great resources to help with this, as does the NHS website, so make sure you are familiar with those. 

How are Y.O.U raising awareness and creating change?

Here at Y.O.U we work with Future Dreams, a brilliant charity providing support for people with breast cancer, raising awareness of breast health and funding breast cancer research. We donate £1 to Future Dreams with each purchase from our light pink collection, which includes bralettes, thongs, bikini bottoms, boy shorts and men's trunks. Our ‘Light Pink Mission’ has already donated over £378 as a result of your purchases from this range, so a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has been part of that. We’d love to do more to support this amazing charity, so if you fancy adding some pink to your underwear drawer have a browse here 

What further actions can we all take?

• Check your breasts - Get used to how your breasts feel at different times of the month to help you spot changes, watch this great video from CoppaFeel!

• Fundraise Future Dreams has lots of great ways to get involved from sponsored runs, to leaving a gift in your Will, attending their events, or volunteering your time - get inspired here.

• Wear Pink! A pink ribbon is the international symbol for breast cancer, but wearing anything pink will help show your support to those who have just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, those who have survived, and those we've lost.  (Think pink nails, pink make up, pink underwear (you know what to do!)

The photo of two women with pink ribbons shown at the top of this blog was taken by Anna Tarazevich.