Each year in the UK, over 21,000 women are diagnosed with a form of gynaecological cancer.
Sadly, 21 women will die from a gynaecological cancer every day. That’s far too many mothers, daughters, friends and family members that we’re losing to cancer.
Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month helps raise awareness of the five gynae cancers – womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal, which may be less known than other types of cancers. During the awareness month in September, Cardiff digital agency Liberty joined the #TeamEve community established by The Eve Appeal.
As part of the awareness month, the team at Eve Appeal recruited Charlotte, Client Accounts Assistant at Liberty, to kick off their #GoRed campaign at Liberty’s offices with a challenge to raise £300.
“I first heard about the work Eve Appeal did after receiving products and leaflets through a feminine subscription service. As soon as I started reading their background information I knew I wanted to raise funds for them. The awareness around all 5 gynaecological cancers is very low, whilst I haven’t personally been affected I know people who have been, and I know those people affected would have wanted gynaecological cancers to be discussed more.
“The donations made by family, friends and colleagues has overwhelmed me. The support shown is incredible and I am so happy to be able to fund research to help women facing gynaecological cancers” says Charlotte.
“Her tenacious can-do attitude saw the office take part in a Liberty Bake-Off, ‘guess-the-baby’ games, raffles and a #GoRed day where colleagues were charged £1 to wear red, or £5 to opt out. Having smashed the original £300 target, Liberty raised it to £500 to which Charlotte responded with a sponsored silence. Charlotte says, “If you can imagine Peter Griffin from ‘Family Guy’ remaining silent for a day, it accurately illustrates the situation I was nominating myself for.”
The rules were simple, Charlotte was to not make any noise that was conversational or could constitute being a response or reaction. This included laughing, scoffs, snorts and coughs, or she faced being penalised £5 each time. However, there were no rules against colleagues clowning around her in an attempt to have her fail. Her sponsored silence took place at 8AM Friday 28th of September as she entered the building and lasted until 4pm.
By 5pm, the total raised was £1,100. Charlotte was penalised (though she argues unfairly) twice.
We’re fundraising today for @eveappeal + the team have been incredible. Just look at those cakes! 😍
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Between bake sales, raffles, “guess the baby” and sponsored silences we have almost hit our £300 target 🎯 –
Want to help? The link is in our bio to … https://t.co/q55azRShDb pic.twitter.com/WHRQGVlen1— Liberty Marketing (@_libertydigital) September 25, 2018
Gareth, MD at Liberty said:
“Her determination and buoyancy to fundraise within the office walls getting every colleague involved was inspirational, and her persistence resulted in a huge amount being raised.
“Not only has Charlotte done a fantastic job, but the team cooperation was equally enlightening. We have had endless support online from Athena, CEO of The Eve Appeal, and so it’s a real treat sharing the final amount raised with her and The Eve Appeal team. Liberty Marketing are pleased to be part of the community championing change on women’s health and social issues.”
The Eve Appeal are a registered charity, and the only in the UK to be funding research into the five gynae cancers. They were set up to fund ground-breaking research focused on developing effective methods of risk prediction, earlier detection and screening for these cancers, but their vision is simple: A future where fewer women develop and more women survive gynaecological cancers.
Next month Liberty will be fundraising for Movember, a charity introduced by Paul the Marketing Manager at Liberty Marketing who is also a Movember Ambassador. As the common phrase goes, there’s no rest for the wicked!
