Phew! What a year 2015-16 was for The Eve Appeal. We’ve raised awareness of the five gynaecological cancers, campaigned for straight-talking on gynae signs, symptoms and language and worked with women affected by these cancers to reduce the stigma and embarrassment that hinders early diagnosis. We’re most proud that we’ve funded over £1 million of new pioneering research projects, released key findings around early detection and reported on the world’s largest ovarian cancer screening trial.
On top of that – we’ve had an army of Eve champions who have fundraised tirelessly throughout the year up and down the country – from holding Make Time for Tea events during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month to undertaking challenge events and marathons. We’ve had wing-walks, sky-dives and a mass-participation zip-wire challenge!
All in aid of women’s cancers.
To put all our work into context, in the UK every year, over 21,000 women are given the news that they’ve been diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer. This equates to 57 women being diagnosed, and 21 women dying each day. That’s far too many mums, wives, daughters and friends lost to gynaecological cancers. We’re determined to change this for the future of women everywhere.
The stark reality is that awareness of gynaecological cancers is very low and many women don’t know that there are five gynaecological cancers: womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal. So much so that its commonplace for women to tell us that the first time they’ve even heard of a gynaecological cancer is when they are sitting in a small white room being told they’ve been diagnosed with one.
With the help of our amazing supporters, researchers and funders, we can together achieve our vision – a future where fewer women develop and more women survive gynaecological cancers.
So yes, a very busy year for The Eve Appeal has ended, but it was also a very rewarding year for the charity. Full of progress by making significant advances into earlier detection, prediction and prevention of these cancers, as well as leading on the national awareness raising front through Gynae Month in September and our collaborative campaign on straight-talking #KnowYourBody.
It’s now up to us to make 2017 an even better year!