OK, real talk time. The horrible truth is that almost every single one of us has been affected in some way by breast cancer. A friend. A sister. A mum. A grandma. A co-worker. Or maybe it was you. (And if it is you, we’re sending you the tightest hugs and warrior vibes. You’ve got this, sister.)

We’re in it together. We’ve all been affected somehow by breast cancer.

The thing is, this horrible disease doesn’t discriminate, and it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with eight women dying from the disease every day.

This stat is sadly on the rise – meaning more mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, friends and families will be impacted. Without research, stats show 30,000 more lives will be lost to breast cancer by 2030. And that is simply not OK.

One in seven Australian women and one in 675 Australian men are expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.

The good news is that there are organisations like the National Breast Cancer Foundation, who are shining a light on this disease and investing millions of dollars into hundreds of breast cancer research projects to find a cure.

NBCF is different because they run entirely on donations from the public—no government funding. This means they can move freely to do their research, but also that they really need our help.

Their mission is to end breast cancer by 2030.

They have had some remarkable results to date. (Last year the five-year survival rate reached 91%!) But the fight is a long way from over. 

We chose to partner with NBCF through our lingerie wash bags because we have seen firsthand how breast cancer has affected so many and torn people and lives apart.  

Here are some ways you can help make this disease a nightmare of the past: 

• Host an event for NBCF
• Ask for NBCF donations (instead of gifts) at your next event or holiday
• Choose a challenge, like a run or shaving your head, and get people to sponsor you
• Grab your gals and volunteer at an NBCF event
• Tell your friends to spread the word! Awareness is power.

You can also buy our lingerie washbag (it’s fab, and a percentage of all proceeds is going straight to our friends at NBCF)!

 

One more thing, ladies. Check your own breasts now.

Girls, check your breasts. Do it tonight. Heck, do it right now. Just pop to the office toilets and use this handy guide if you don’t know how to do a self-exam. It only takes a few minutes. Tell your friends. We’re all doing it.

Nearly half of all breast cancers are actually found by the woman herself.

So get touching. And get involved!

Let’s make “breast cancer” something we have to explain to our granddaughters one day. 

For us, teaming with NBCF is about giving back to our community of amazing women and helping NBCF to continue their life-changing work, not just in October for Breast Cancer Awareness month, but every day of every year until this disease is history. So let’s do it.

~With love The ELC Team xxx