Newham Mayor congratulates young East Ham lifesavers for cancer project

Sir Robin Wales congratulated girls and staff at Plashet School on their highly successful breast cancer awareness project.

Girls in years 10 and 11 have been trained as Young Lifesavers by Community Links.

Frances Clarke, from Community Links, said: “The goal is to share information with family, friends and neighbours about the need to detect breast cancer early, while it is still small and more easily treated”.

Plashet School has supported the breast cancer awareness campaign and encouraged its pupils to be health advocates, actively sharing information with mums and other female relatives.

Marion Tuplin, assistant head, said: “Our pupils have learnt all about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, they now know how important it is to regularly self-examine and to go straight to the doctor with any concerns. They can help save lives with this knowledge”.

Sir Robin met with members of staff who have been supporting the campaign, which is supported by the Newham Recorder including one who has directly benefitted from the project.

Edythe Labinjo, said: “My own personal experience of the project is very strong, it has saved my life. I carried out my first ever breast self examination, at the end of March 2011, as a result of the work of the campaign. I found that I had a lump which when tested was identified as breast cancer. I was successfully treated during the summer and am now back at work. It has been a fantastic lifesaving idea.”

Francs Clarke, said: “We are encouraging all women to follow Edythe’s example and carry out regular self-examinations; it can save your life. There is no special way of examining yourself, it is a question of knowing what is normal for you and going to the doctor if you find anything not normal. We are also concerned that women should know all the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and to visit www.smallc.org to see the full list.”

For more details contact frances.clarke@community-links.org