Breast Cancer Campaign are excited to see a new force in the fight against cancer – Stand Up To Cancer. Stand Up To Cancer is a partnership of Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK and is taking to our TV screens next week. The live show on Friday 19 October will feature a host of TV, film and music stars chatting to Alan Carr and Davina McCall. Along with more in-depth programmes relating to cancer throughout this month, the project aims to raise millions to bring about a cure for this disease.

Many of our supporters will relate to Episode Three of the Personal Stories series, which looks into two women making the decision to be tested for the BRCA breast cancer gene. As their mother is suffering from the disease, if tested positive, they would need to decide whether to have a preventative double mastectomy to reduce their risk of breast cancer. Our blogger, Charlotte, has taken this decision herself and writes candidly of the decisions and consequences she faces at each step of the process.

As the leading breast cancer research charity in the UK, we are fully behind this initiative and are looking forward to seeing the developments that come from it – both with awareness raising (since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month) and in research development. We are currently pioneering new research with our Gap Analysis sessions, looking into where there may be critical gaps in uncovering the causes and treatments for breast cancer. With Stand Up To Cancer taking place alongside, we are eager to see research put to the forefront of public interest and an increase in funding.

The last Gap Analysis run by Breast Cancer Campaign in 2006 led to the innovative breast cancer tissue bank being created. Donated tissue from women with breast cancer is held by the bank and can be requested by scientists across the UK and Ireland. The success of the bank has been tremendous as researchers can now be supplied with precisely the samples needed for their programme of work. Leading breast cancer professors and doctors are now meeting to see if there is more that can be done to speed up finding a cure for breast cancer.

If Stand Up To Cancer has inspired you to get involved in the fight against breast cancer, register for our leading fundraising event, wear it pink, on Friday 26 October. Get your school, work place, flatmates or friends to wear pink for the day and make a small contribution for doing so. We have lots of fundraising ideas and a team of enthusiastic helpers to give you all the support you need to make it a great day.

With so many people joining in for Breast Cancer Action Month and Stand up To Cancer, we feel more motivated than ever into finding a cure.