Holyrood leaders wear it pink in aid of Breast Cancer Now
Scottish party leaders have joined forces to show their support for women with breast cancer and encourage Scots to take part in Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink fundraiser on Friday 21 October.
Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson, Kezia Dugdale, Willie Rennie, and Patrick Harvie donned fabulous pink outfits as part of Breast Cancer Now’s annual wear it pink event in the Scottish Parliament today.
By raising more awareness and more funds it will be possible to save more lives - Patrick Harvie
Wear it pink, the UK’s biggest pink fundraiser, calls on supporters across the country to ditch the day-to-day colours and pull on some pink to raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving breast cancer research.
Now in its 15th year, wear it pink raises over £2 million each year for world-class research into breast cancer.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government is committed to playing its full part in efforts to stop breast cancer deaths by 2050. To make this ambitious goal a reality we need everyone to work together.
“Campaigns like wear it pink help fund cutting edge research into breast cancer. That research will deliver new ways of understanding the disease, preventing it, treating it, and ultimately stopping it taking lives.”
Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said: “Wear it pink is a chance to stand out, stand together, and stand up to breast cancer.
“While progress has been made over the years, tackling breast cancer is not a done deal. Around 1,000 people still die from the disease in Scotland each year. By supporting research we can make a real difference for people with breast cancer both now and in the future.”
Kezia Dugdale, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, said: “Breast cancer still touches the lives of so many people in Scotland.
“Research holds the key to ending the pain, fear and loss that this disease still causes. That’s why I’m backing Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink campaign and I hope others do too on Friday 21st October.”
Patrick Harvie, leader of the Scottish Green Party, said: “There are still big questions that exist around breast cancer. That’s why we need events like Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink. By raising more awareness and more funds it will be possible to save more lives.”
Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: “Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink day is a brilliant event we can all get involved in that raises millions for research that will save lives.
“I’ll be supporting this great cause on Friday 21st October and I’m sure others will too.”
Breast Cancer Now’s Director for Scotland, Mary Allison, said: “I’m delighted that party leaders in Scotland are coming together again this year to support wear it pink.
“Their continued support means a lot, especially their collective commitment earlier in the year to play their part in stopping deaths from breast cancer by 2050.
“More Scots are being diagnosed with breast cancer than a decade ago and it remains the most common cancer among women. We also know that while huge progress has been made in improving survival, almost 1,000 women a year in Scotland still die from this devastating disease.
“That’s why we need to continue to support research and find better ways to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer.”
