As October, known as Breast Cancer Awareness month, is here, women over 40 years of age are being urged to have a regular mammogram. It's nearly 10 years since we presented a petition of 125,000 signatures to Parliament in 2003. Our petition was all about ‘Early detection is your best protection', by calling for an expansion to the age of Breast Screening.
Previously, access was restricted to women aged 50-64 years. But subsequently the Government extended the eligible age to 45-69 years.
The upcoming 10th anniversary is a celebration of all those people, nationwide, who signed the petition and walked the streets with their clipboards, to make a difference.
With all of your help, we moved a reluctant Minister of Health and achieved a triumph owned by all. So thank you; and please remember to have a mammogram from age 40.

Debbie and Tim Short, Breast Cancer Action Trust.