This year we are marking a very special occasion, it is 25 years since Dr Anthony Leathem together with his wife Pat decided to set up Against Breast Cancer.
In 1993 Anthony recognised the urgent need to improve patient survival by preventing deaths from secondary spread breast cancer. A Pathologist at Middlesex Hospital at the time, Anthony had seen at first hand and become increasingly upset at the number of women dying from breast cancer.
His decision to act would change both their lives forever.
With no funding available to them they began by using their own savings but soon realised additional funds would be required if they were to have an impact. Their own bedroom became home to the charity’s fundraising and while Pat tirelessly hand wrote letters and sold sweet peas from her garden to raise funds, it was Tony rattling a collecting tin outside Oxford Circus Underground Station that bought them both to the attention of the press.
Slowly support began to follow and their early target of raising £26,000 for a research assistant was soon met.
25 years later Pat still describes the incredible feeling she had after receiving their first cheque £50 from a school in Manchester.
I’ll never forget it, just how exciting and rewarding it would be and it still amazes me to this day at how many kind people there are willing to help.
With so many highlights and people to thank, we asked Pat and Tony to look back over 25 years of our history. We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane as much as we enjoyed making it. We have produced 3 limited edition items to mark this very special anniversary, 25 year versions of our ever popular wristbands, pin badges and pens which are available to purchase on our online shop. We are also producing a supplement to our printed Supporter Update, to receive your free copy and to join our mailing list please contact us here.