For mothers and daughters, wear your support.

When I joined Breakthrough Breast Cancer I looked forward to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Shopping for a good cause has a certain appeal-excuses to buy nice clothes I don't normally need. The fantastic photos of the celebrities supporting the campaign have offered iconic images over the years. One that stood out for me was Kylie wrapped in the image of the target, the emblem for the campaign. Her beauty and fragility in that moment captured for ever.

I was the same age as Kylie was when I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. OK I know that's where the similarities end...my backside will never look like that! But I have recognised her reluctance to be defined by her cancer and then her courage when she has acknowledged it too. She hasn't pretended it didn't have an impact but she has also demonstrated her beauty and talent are in no way diminished.

This years fashion targets campaign has a focus on mothers and daughters. The stunning images of Sharon and Kelly Osbourne and Pearl and Daisy Lowe shine out from poster stands across the UK. As we know Sharon opted for a bilateral mastectomy after identifying her genetic high risk  of breast cancer. A brave decision which must have had a huge impact on her daughter too. As part of a  BCCEU tweet chat recently I asked the assistant director of research for Breakthrough Breast Cancer , Julia Wilson (@jul-wil)what reassurance could she give families in the future. Her reply was "our commitment we are ready to pick off different types of breast cancer one by one and stop mothers and daughter dying".
Campaigns like fashion targets may seem at one level glamorous but that's not what they are about.....they are to bring much needed funds into this work. So I will be wearing my support this year again. Here's more detail about whats on offer.

My family like many others has felt the impact for mothers and daughters. My step daughter, my daughter and I did the Edinburgh moonwalk a few years ago, less than a year after my step daughters mother had died of breast cancer. A poignant midnight trudge through our beautiful city, our hearts heavy with loss but strengthened but with that shared purpose. The sight of my son as a volunteer helper throughout the night brought tears to our eyes, as did the greeting from their Dad at the end.  Fathers, sons as well as daughters all feel the impact after all.

Reasons to be thankful.
I will leave you with the image of this particular mother with her daughter who is thankful everyday still to be here, 19 years after breast cancer first invaded our lives and also after its impact a second time. That's the result we want for everyone, so do wear your support, the money is well invested....in saving lives.