With an array of enticing pink cupcakes, desserts and decorations, Jewish women in Nottingham came together last week for a ‘Think Pink’ evening as a part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The initiative - which aimed to raised awareness as well as funds to combat breast cancer - took place in Nottingham Hebrew Congregation and was organised by a committee of students and community members, spearheaded by Brocha Lent, co-director of Chabad of Nottingham.
“There isn't a person in the country who doesn't know someone who has or had breast cancer,” says Lent.
Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer for women in the UK with nearly 46,000 diagnosed cases and 12,000 deaths each year.
Ashkenazi Jewish women are five times more likely to have a mutated breast cancer gene (BRCA1 and BRCA2) than the general population putting them at a higher risk. Therefore, “the key to success in beating breast cancer is early detection,” explains Lent.
“My late mother in law, Chana Rivka (bas Menachem Mendel), passed away from the disease and the evening was dedicated in her memory.”
As well as a plethora of delicious food donated by kosher bakeries in London, the evening included an awareness-raising presentation by Edwina Dobson, a Macmillan cancer specialist nurse, on the importance of identifying the early signs of breast cancer.
All proceeds from the event went to the UK Jewish community’s cancer support organisation, Chai Cancer Care, whose chairman, Louise Hager, spoke at the event.
“It was an honour and a privilege to attend the event,” says Hager. “I was so pleased to have the opportunity to talk about Chai Cancer Care, how and why it started 20 years ago and to let everyone know what we are doing now and our plans for the future.”
“A lot of care and thought went into organising the event from the moment you walked into the room there was a lovely atmosphere which really reflected the 'Think Pink theme.”
Women from across Nottingham’s Jewish community came together to make the event happen.
“I helped get sponsors for the event and promote it so that we could get as many women to attend as possible,” says Abigail Frieslander, a student at Nottingham Trent University who was on the organising committee.
“It is something I am very proud to be part of and would love to help out with future charity events.”
Click here for more pictures.