Role models’ life-saving campaigns

Three models taking part in this year’s Breast Cancer Now fashion show – Covid-19 restrictions permitting – have all campaigned with the charity to improve the lives of those living with incurable secondary breast cancer.

Last year, Alison Tait joined

Jen Hardy and Jane O’Neill as the Scottish faces of the charity’s Unsurvivors campaign, which challenged the perception that everyone survives the disease.

It also called for improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and care of incurable breast cancer.

Alison, Jen, 52, and Jane, 51, have all been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, which can be treated but can’t be cured.

There are an estimated 35,000 people in the UK living with secondary breast cancer, where the disease spreads to another part of the body.

While more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before, about 11,500 a year die in the UK.

In 2017, Alison fronted a national campaign with Breast Cancer Now calling for a deal to be reached on life-lengthening drug kadcyla, which led to the treatment being approved for use by the NHS in Scotland for patients with incurable breast cancer.

The following year, Jen worked with the charity on a campaign which led to the drug perjeta being approved for women with secondary breast cancer. She was joined in the campaign by Alison.

Jane has joined Jen and Alison in ambassador roles for the charity.

Alison said: “All three of us want to use our involvement in the show to help raise better awareness of secondary breast cancer and highlight the needeed for improved treatments.”

For more information,ormation, call

Breast Cancer Now’s free helpline – 08088 800 6000.