A team of five individuals, driven by their passion for breast cancer research and healthcare, is gearing up to conquer the Great Manchester Run, the city’s most iconic and best-loved running event.
Not only are they making a significant impact in their day-to-day roles, but they’re also committed to fundraising and supporting Prevent Breast Cancer’s life-saving research.
The team consists of Bruno, a Research fellow at the University of Manchester working on breast cancer prevention through laboratory-based research, together with his wife, Maria, a Paediatric endocrinology consultant at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Joining them is Sara, a PhD student, along with Master’s students Erin and Fin, who are all based at the University of Manchester researching breast cancer.
We took the opportunity to speak with Bruno and Sara from the group to learn more.
Bruno first explained why they’re running for Prevent Breast Cancer:
As scientists and healthcare professionals, we understand the critical role of prevention and early intervention in saving lives. This run is more than just a physical challenge – it’s an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for research that aims to stop breast cancer before it starts. Last year, Maria, Sara and I ran the Great Manchester Run for Prevent Breast Cancer and we’re excited to do it again and continue our support for the charity.
He continued:
Breast cancer affects millions of lives and Prevent Breast Cancer focuses on stopping the disease before it starts. My research is directly aligned with Prevent Breast Cancer’s mission as I work to understand how breast cancer develops and explore ways to prevent it, particularly in women at higher risk. By supporting your charity, we contribute to vital research that could help save lives and reduce the number of people affected by this disease.
Sara explained how some of the work conducted in her laboratory is funded by Prevent Breast Cancer:
The profound impact your charity has on research is very apparent. That’s why I am proud to help fundraise, as the work you do significantly advances research and positively transforms the lives of women across the country.
Bruno enthusiastically agrees:
Through research funded by Prevent Breast Cancer, including my own work investigating potential preventive treatments, we are paving the way towards a future where breast cancer can be prevented before it even starts.
We asked both Bruno and Sara what a breast cancer free future means to them.
Bruno said:
For me, a breast cancer free future doesn’t necessarily mean a world completely without the disease – that may not be realistic. But if we can significantly reduce the number of women affected, the lives lost, and the impact breast cancer has on women and their families, then we will have achieved something truly meaningful. That’s what we’re running for, and we’re committed to helping make that vision a reality.
Sara agreed that a breast cancer free future would bring about a monumental shift for global health, society, and families all around the world:
Women and men would no longer experience the pain, the fear or loss due to breast cancer. Millions of lives would be saved every year and harsh treatments such as chemotherapy would no longer be necessary. Children would no longer be losing their mothers; others would no longer be losing their loved ones and friends to this disease. Achieving such a future is the reason I have pursued a career in cancer research as I hope that my work will have an impact in people’s lives and bring us a step closer to achieving this. A future without breast cancer not only eliminates the disease, but brings people hope and time with those you love.
With the run taking place on May 18th, it won’t be long until the team is flying the flag for Prevent Breast Cancer and pounding the streets of Manchester.
If you’d like to donate to their fundraising, here are the links to their pages: Bruno and Maria, Sara, Erin and Fin.
Everyone at the charity is immensely grateful to all five runners and we eagerly look forward to cheering them on.
About Prevent Breast Cancer
Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease. Join us today and help us create a future free from breast cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, email us today.
