Walk the Walk has joined forces with a US-based charity to raise awareness of the condition.
A transatlantic partnership has been created to raise awareness of male breast cancer.
Walk the Walk, the charity behind the MoonWalk events, has joined forces with the US-based Male Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) to highlight the fact that men get breast cancer too.
Every year, 370 men in the UK and 2,620 men in the US are diagnosed with the disease. Lack of awareness means the mortality rate is higher among men than women, with 81 UK men and 520 in the US dying from the condition annually.
Walk the Walk recently published a downloadable awareness poster, encouraging men to “Check your Chest” to spot the signs of breast cancer. Men taking part in Walk the Walk’s fundraising challenges wear a special pink t-shirt with a blue bra printed on it.
The MBCC shares the stories of men from all over the world who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The coalition provides resources for those affected and their families, while raising awareness through visits to high schools and colleges.
Through the partnership, the charities hope to reach millions more people across the globe.
Roy Collins, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, has been working with Walk the Walk to raise awareness for the last couple of years.
He said: “I was really pleased to hear that Walk the Walk are going into partnership with the Male Breast Cancer Coalition. Anything that can help men feel less alone by sharing their stories and experiences is a great move forward in the fight against breast cancer.
“I hope this new partnership also encourages more men to check themselves for symptoms”.
Cheri Ambrose, Founder of the Male Breast Cancer Coalition said: “We are honoured to be joining forces with Walk the Walk to help promote awareness of breast cancer in men. It is through education that we will be able to break the gender stigma that breast cancer holds and give men a fighting chance against the disease”.
The announcement comes as research from the University of Aberdeen revealed that the incidence of male breast cancer in Scotland has doubled since 1992, with around 25 new diagnoses each year.
Dr Kotryna Temcinaite, research communications manager at Breast Cancer Now urged anyone with concerns to contact their GP immediately.
The charity also operates a helpline which can be called free on 0808 800 6000.
