Haverhill mum’s cat walk fight against breast cancer

A local mum is helping the fight against breast cancer by taking to the cat walk for a fashion shoot in her bra.

Kristina Bright, 36, a receptionist from Haverhill, took part in the Bracode campaign which aims to raise money and awareness for research into breast cancer at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge.

The campaign is being launched with a video fronted by actress Patricia Hodge. The film’s message is that there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all bra and the same goes for breast cancer treatment. Volunteers posed in their bras for the photoshoot.

Kristina, who has six children and one step son, said the campaign resonated with her as her partner’s first wife had died from breast cancer when she was only 27.

“My step son was only one and a half when she died,” said Kristina. “Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT) had an advert looking for body confident people and I thought I could help. My children and myself have all been treated at Addenbrooke’s for one thing or another, so it’s something that’s quite close to my heart.

“It’s a really exciting project. If it all comes together, people will need less treatment because what they will receive will be tailored to them. It will save the NHS money.”

Susanne Owers, ACT’s director of fundraising said: “We have already raised £943,000 to initiate the project. We now need £5,000 for each patient diagnosed with breast cancer to take part in the programme so we can sequence, assess and monitor their tumours.”

Joy Martin, one of the Addenbrooke’s patients who took part in the video, said: “I’m supporting this campaign so women in the future can be more confident that they’re receiving the best possible treatment for their particular cancer.”

The video is online at: https://youtu.be/rX7u5rW-0wQ