Pants to cancer
How mum of four Lesley went from campaigning for life-extending drug to starring in a new M&S advert campaign in her bra
MUM Lesley Stephen jumped at the chance to model for a new national M&S campaign raising awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. But she almost changed her mind when she realised it meant having her photo taken in her underwear. Lesley, from Edinburgh, admitted: “I dithered, then my husband said, ‘You look great – what have you got to lose?’ So I thought ‘I’ll just go for it.’” The mum of four – who fought for life-extending drug Kadcyla to be made available for all in Scotland who need it – is making the most out of every moment in life after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2014. The new campaign puts the spotlight on the UK’s leading breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now, in October – which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The 51-year-old was joined by six other women from across the UK who have also been affected by breast cancer to model pink bras from the store.
M&S will be donating 20 per cent of sales from those products to Breast Cancer Now throughout this month.
Lesley explained: “Most women aren’t very body-confident at the best of times so couple that with having had children and being on permanent cancer treatment.
“Then I thought, ‘If I can do it, then anyone can.’
“At the photoshoot, although we were all very anxious initially, within an hour or so we were loving it.
“It was very empowering and liberating.
“At the start of the day, people were wandering around in their dressing gowns and by the end, they were strutting about like they were Elle