Top Irish chefs and bakers join forces to launch ‘Big Pink Breakfast’ to raise vital funds for breast cancer patients

Beloved foodies including Una Leonard, Sarah Butler, Donal Skehan, Neven Maguire and more lend their support

Monday, 26 August: Eight of Ireland’s top chefs, bakers and beloved foodies are joining forces to support the Irish Cancer Society’s ‘Big Pink Breakfast’ ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise vital funds for groundbreaking breast cancer research and free services. 

Every year, around 3,400 women and approximately 30 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland. People can sign up to host a Big Pink Breakfast throughout the month of October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A Big Pink Breakfast can be a tea or coffee morning at work, a family and friends get together at home or a bake sale in your community. There are lots of ways to get involved this October. Visit cancer.ie/pink to learn more.

Typically receiving just 5% of its funding from Government, the Irish Cancer Society’s cancer research and vital free services like the Support Line, Transport Service, Daffodil Centres, Cancer information, financial grants and Night Nursing are fuelled by fundraising. 

Patrice Morrissey, a lone parent of three boys, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023. While going through her treatment last October, Patrice hosted a Big Pink Breakfast at her workplace and raised an incredible €13,500 for the Irish Cancer Society. 

Launching this year’s campaign, Patrice said: 

“When you sign up to host a Big Pink Breakfast, you are choosing to help people affected by breast cancer like me and my family. Hearing those three words “you have cancer” is devastating. I had my family around me, and they helped me through my diagnosis, but it was also incredibly comforting to visit a Daffodil Centre for advice, access Irish Cancer Society-funded counselling and to get a free lift to and from some of my appointments- all incredible free services, fuelled by the generosity of the public. 

“None of those services and supports are possible without fundraising initiatives like the Big Pink Breakfast. That’s why I wanted to host my own Big Pink Breakfast event – so that I could give back to breast cancer patients coming after me. I’d encourage anybody to sign up, get the kettle on, get baking or run to your local shop, make a big a difference and positively impact the life of somebody going through breast cancer this October.”

Lending her support to the ‘Big Pink Breakfast’ campaign, Una Leonard, baker and best-selling author, said: 

“We know that cancer unfortunately impacts nearly every family in Ireland and for women in particular, we hear of so many of our friends, family, colleagues and neighbours going through breast cancer. My own family has been affected by breast cancer, and that’s why I am delighted to be involved to support this year’s Big Pink Breakfast campaign and to be among some of Ireland’s favourite chefs and bakers to participate – I think it really shows the power of coming together for a great cause. Registration is open now so get yourself signed up.”

Calling on the public to get involved to raise vital funds for the Irish Cancer Society’s breast cancer supports and services, Sarah Butler, best-selling home-cooking author, said: 

“I’m thrilled to be involved and to support such an important campaign. The Irish Cancer Society does amazing work in supporting patients and their families as they are going through the most difficult time. In Ireland, we’re great at rallying around each other and coming together, and I’d really encourage people to host a Big Pink Breakfast wherever you can: at your workplace, in the office, at your kid’s school, in your sports club, community centre or at home – wherever you can think of! You’ll raise vital funding for a great cause, but importantly as well, you’ll be getting people thinking about breast cancer this breast cancer awareness month.”

All eight chefs and bakers participating and lending their support this year, include:

• Sarah Butler
• Gillian Cottell
• Karl Henry 
• Una Leonard
• Neven Maguire
• Clodagh McKenna
• Cliona O’Connor
• Donal Skehan 

Their healthy recipes are available for participants to download in the Big Pink Breakfast Recipe E-Book.

Participants are encouraged to host their fundraising events throughout the month of October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Registration is open now! To register and to find out more, please visit: cancer.ie/pink.

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