30-mile challenge for breast cancer care

A determined member of staff from the Warrington, Halton, St Helens and Knowsley Breast Screening Service is going the distance this October to raise funds for Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals Charity’s (WHH Charity) Moobs and Boobs Appeal.

The appeal supports all things breast cancer care – helping to enhance treatment areas and provide extra comfort for patients across the Trust.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Caitlin O’Brien, Improving Screening Uptake Officer at WHH, will take on a huge personal challenge – a 30-mile sponsored walk on Saturday 18 October.

Caitlin will trek between the breast screening sites in Runcorn, St Helens and Warrington before returning to her starting point – a journey expected to take more than 13 hours to complete. Every step will help raise awareness and funds to support patients and families affected by breast cancer.

Caitlin, who joined the Breast Screening Service earlier this year after starting her career in Radiology in 2020, said: “The Moobs and Boobs Appeal means so much to our team – it’s about doing everything we can to support people facing breast cancer and showing them they’re not alone. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m really excited to take on something completely new, even though I know it will be tough. I’ve been going on long walks and runs with my family to prepare, and I know that when the tiredness and aches kick in, thinking about our patients will keep me going.

“In my role, I support people from vulnerable groups and communities to overcome barriers to screening and raise awareness about the importance of early detection. There have been patients who missed appointments but, after speaking with our team, decided to rebook – and in some cases, that’s led to an early diagnosis. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I can play even a small part in improving outcomes for people in our care.”

The walk is part of the Breast Screening Service’s commitment to raising awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time dedicated to highlighting the importance of early detection and supporting everyone affected by breast cancer.

Caitlin hopes to raise as much as possible for the appeal – and donations can be made via her JustGiving page.