PEOPLE from Bude are raising eyebrows, smiles and vital funds this month as they ‘get their frocks on!’ as part of a fundraising campaign between Animal Free Research UK and Breast Cancer UK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The partnership between Animal Free Research UK and Breast Cancer UK is changing the way that charities work together by combining their joint expertise and visions to fund a three-year animal free breast cancer research project.

Led by scientist, Professor Valerie Speirs, from the University of Leeds, the study will help researchers to further understand the role played by potentially harmful chemicals and their impact on breast density. High breast density is a key risk factor for breast cancer.

The research will explore whether endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have an impact on breast density. Many EDCs are synthetic and can be found in many every day items including plastics, personal care products, cosmetics, domestic cleaning products and food and drink.

This research will help to understand whether these chemicals have an impact on breast density and help to identify ways in which breast cancers can be prevented in the future. No animals will be used in the research. Instead, human tissue samples from national and international breast tissue bio-banks will be used.

Between them, the charities aim to raise £90,000 to fund this groundbreaking research.

Steph Jones-Giles from Animal Free Research Bude Group said: “It’s a brilliant campaign and this week activities really get underway. On Monday customers enjoyed a fabulous three-course meal at Morwenna Cafe which raised a terrific £116.08, thanks to Lin, Rudi and the team! For those who like to be active there are two very special events. On October 12, glam up for Boxercise 6.30pm at The Sensory Room, Belle Vue Lane and on October 15 get into BOKWA at BED nightclub 2-5pm. Don’t forget your frocks — men and women alike are invited to join the fun! Beginners welcome at both events. All fitness instructors and venues are donating their services for free and so the whole entry fee goes to charity.

“Not so adventurous? Sprys Shoe Shop have a Pets Win Prizes competition which runs the whole of October and on the 22nd ’Get Your Veg On’ are hosting a Family Fun Day 1-3pm (opposite Tourist Information). Huge thanks to everyone who is putting themselves out for this amazing cause.”

For further details about how you can get involved this month, please call Steph on 07971 454214.

Lynn Ladbrook, chief executive of Breast Cancer UK, a charity that works to prevent breast cancer by tackling the environmental and chemical causes of the disease, said: “Over 55,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. One in eight women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some stage in their lives. Understanding why we are becoming more vulnerable to this disease is imperative if we are to begin to reduce these numbers. This project could help us to better understand whether our environments are making the breast more vulnerable to breast cancer. Seeing people from across the country, many who have direct lived experience is fantastic. We are delighted to see so many people get behind our campaign.”

To find out more about sign up, visit www.getyourfrockon.org