Thousands of people in Ireland are diagnosed with breast cancer each and every year and this October, you have a chance to help change their lives.

The Irish Cancer Society is urging people right across the country to host a Big Pink Breakfast to raise much-needed funds for groundbreaking cancer research and vital support services.

This is your chance to grab your friends, family or colleagues and make a Really Big Difference to the thousands of families impacted by breast cancer.

Hosting a Big Pink Breakfast or donating to the cause will allow the Irish Cancer Society to continue its cancer research and support vital services including the charity's Support Line, Transport Service, Daffodil Centres, Cancer information, financial grants and Night Nursing.

The Irish Cancer Society typically only receives around 5% of its funding from the Government so their vital services and research rely on the generosity of their supporters.

Last year, donations from the public helped fund:

• More than 4635 lifts to treatment for over 485 breast cancer patients.
• Over 435 nights of vital end-of-life comfort and care to breast cancer patients.
• Over 5,490 supportive and comforting conversations with the Irish Cancer Society’s Support Line and Daffodil Centre nurses.
• Over 4,825 free counselling sessions to help breast cancer patients cope with their diagnosis.

At a time when nearly 3,400 women and 30 men are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland every year, the public’s donations also help to fund groundbreaking cancer research that significantly improves people’s lives before and after diagnosis.

“It’s thanks to the generosity of our wonderful donors, fundraisers and volunteers that we can provide services and support to ensure nobody in Ireland faces breast cancer alone,” says Head of Fundraising, Sinead Gillespie.

“The more we raise, the more we can do – the more lifesaving research we can fund, the more vital free supports we can provide to everyone facing this disease and the closer we come to a day when no one dies from breast cancer in Ireland.”

You can sign up and find out more about hosting a Big Pink Breakfast.

You can donate to the cause and change the lives of people with breast cancer now and into the future here.

Big Pink Breakfast. Image: Irish Cancer Society

While breast cancer is more common in women over the age of 50, those under 50 can also be affected.

The Irish Cancer Society is urging people across the country to be breast aware and look out for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

The sooner you notice a change the better, because if cancer is found early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Get into the habit of looking at and feeling your breasts every month. This will help you to notice any change if it occurs.