Fitness club goes pink in support of breast cancer campaign

A fitness club in Bradley Stoke has turned pink for the month of October in support of a national breast cancer awareness campaign.

Staff at Anytime Fitness, based at the Willow Brook Centre, have replaced their normal purple uniforms with pink ‘cancer awareness’ t-shirts.

Heather Williams, Manager at the Bradley Stoke club, said:

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. In real terms it means that you don’t have to go very far to meet someone who has been diagnosed with the condition. There isn’t a single member of the team at Anytime Fitness who hasn’t been touched by the disease in some way, so we really wanted to help raise awareness of this event and we felt that changing out of our customary trademark purple uniforms for new pink ones seemed like an perfect idea!”

“We will be holding various events in the club over the next few weeks, and will be asking our members to help us raise desperately needed funds for Breast Cancer Care. Members of the Public are welcome to pop into the club and see what we have going on, and we welcome any donations however small!”

Photo: Fitness Assistants Stephanie Bishop (left) and Chloe Giles launch Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Anytime Fitness.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is organised by Breast Cancer Care, a UK-wide charity dedicated to providing emotional and practical support for anyone affected by breast cancer. It campaigns for better support and care and promotes the importance of early detection, involving people with breast cancer in all that it does.

Breast cancer facts

• The number of people being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing, but the good news is survival rates are improving. This is probably because of more targeted treatments, earlier detection and better breast awareness.
• The biggest risk factor, after gender, is increasing age – 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.
• Breast cancer also affects men, but it’s rare – around 300 men are diagnosed each year.
• Breast cancer is not one single disease there are several types of breast cancer.
• Not all breast cancers show as a lump, and not all breast lumps are breast cancer.
• Less than 10% of breast cancer runs in families, so having someone in your family with breast cancer doesn’t necessarily mean your own risk is increased.

Breast cancer statistics

• Around 50,000 new cases of invasive and non-invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK.
• This October around 4,000 people will receive the devastating news they have breast cancer.
• Nearly 12,000 people die from breast cancer in the UK every year.
• Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer for women in the UK, after lung cancer.
• There are an estimated 550,000 people living in the UK today who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer.
• In women under the age of 35, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer.

How you can help

Turn your clothes, your food and your Friday pink! Help the charity by organising your own Pink Friday event at work, school or home.

Related link: Gyms and Personal Trainers in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)