Everything from muffins and shoes to bracelets and rubber ducks go pink with a purpose as Pink Patrons campaigns launches ahead of October

This October, generous companies are going pink with a purpose by becoming Pink Patrons for the Marie Keating Foundation. Pfizer, bb’s bakers + baristas, Stella & Dot, Pigsback, Skechers and Theya Healthcare are all helping to raise funds for the Marie Keating Foundation’s fight against breast cancer. The Marie Keating Foundation’s Pink Patron’s are also helping to spread awareness about how women can help to reduce their risk of breast cancer and be breast aware, as each year approximately 2,900 women in Ireland are diagnosed with this disease and this number continues to rise.

Funding raised from the Pink Patron campaign will help the Marie Keating Foundation to continue to run services such as its mobile information units which visit schools, community centres and workplaces around Ireland every day and focus on breast cancer during October. Funds will also help support the Foundation’s new Positive Living programme which provides support for the specific emotional and practical needs of people with metastatic cancer. A Positive Living course for women with metastatic breast cancer starts on 30 September 2016. Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer, also known as Stage VI, where the cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, brain, or lungs. There is currently no cure.

The Marie Keating Foundation’s Pink Patrons include:

• Pfizer: Support women with breast cancer and raise awareness for metastatic breast cancer by adopting a pink rubber duck which will swim in the Pfizer Powering Pink Duck Race in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation. The ducks can be adopted for €5, with all proceeds going directly to the Marie Keating Foundation’s breast cancer programmes and services. Each of the adopted pink rubber ducks will be numbered and cast into the River Liffey on 15 October 2016 with the owner of the first duck to cross the finish winning a weekend break for two in the five star Conrad Hotel in Dublin. To adopt a duck, visit mariekeating.ie/ducks

• bb’s bakers + baristas: The brand new Mrs Pink Muffin at bb’s bakers + baristas means that you can have a generous helping of fabulous, fruity strawberry flavours all while helping the Marie Keating Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. As Pink Patrons, bb’s bakers + baristas is donating 25 cent from the sale of each Mrs Pink muffin sold during October to the cancer charity. Available nationwide from 1 October 2016.

• Stella & Dot: Stella & Dot are launching the Wishing Bracelet – Bisous(€22) ; the Wishing Necklace- Rose Gold (€40) ; and the Resilience Cuff (€34), signature accessories dedicated to supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.  For each accessory purchased from 20 September – 31 October 2016, all net proceeds of Irish purchases will benefit the Marie Keating Foundation. Available from stelladot.eu.

• Pigsback: Pigsback are holding their annual Pigsback 5k and 10k in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation at 10am on Sunday, 9 October 2016 in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Registration for the chip-timed event is €20 for the 5km event and €25 for the 10km event with a family ticket costing €50. There will be entertainment, goodie bags and lots of prizes. All proceeds will go to fund the charity’s life-saving work in breast cancer awareness and services.  For more, see mariekeating.ie/events.

• Skechers: For each pair of Skechers Performance GOwalk 3™ shoes sold, €10 will be donated to the Marie Keating Foundation to support breast cancer services. The black, white and charcoal shoes are available at Skechers retail shops nationwide and each shoe includes the iconic breast cancer awareness pink ribbon on the heel. Skechers GOwalk 3 shoes are available in both slip-on and lace-up styles.

• Theya Healthcare: THEYA Healthcare’s post-surgery underwear is the perfect fit for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, whether that’s surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. It promotes healing, is incredibly comfortable and adjusts to changing needs during treatment. It is designed to be kind and look beautiful.  As Pink Patrons for the Marie Keating Foundation, THEYA Healthcare will donate 10% of profits on all purchases of the vanilla range during the month of October. The range is available on mariekeating.ie, and in Arnotts, House of Fraser’s online store and specialist stockists nationwide

Linda Keating, Director of Fundraising, the Marie Keating Foundation, said, “We are so thankful for the support of these businesses in joining the fight against breast cancer as the funds and awareness they will help us raise are much needed.

About one in four cases of breast cancer is preventable so the funds raised by the Pink Patron campaign will help the Marie Keating Foundation reach more communities, workplaces, shopping centres and colleges to talk about breast cancer prevention and early detection. The funds will also help us support women already on a breast cancer journey, whether they are currently dealing with the disease or adjusting to life as a survivor.”

It is not too late to become a Pink Patron for the Marie Keating Foundation. Interested organisations can contact Fiona in the Marie Keating Foundation on 01 628 3728.