11 brands to shop while also supporting breast cancer awareness

Ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many brands have promised to donate a percentage of sales to various Irish cancer charities. Here’s where you can shop, and what you can buy, to support the cause

Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October, and this year, brands across the country have promised to help raise awareness. What’s more, many have committed to being a ‘Pink Patron’; donating a percentage of their profits to the Marie Keating Foundation. Others are giving to the Irish Cancer Society and Breast Cancer Ireland.

All funds raised through the ‘Pink Patron’ campaign will help the Marie Keating Foundation continue to provide its cancer prevention, awareness and support services; such as its mobile information units, which visit towns, schools, communities and workplaces around Ireland.

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As breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Ireland (with approximately eight women being diagnosed with the illness every single day), these services are essential.

What’s more, funds raised will also go towards supporting the charities’ survivorship campaigns. These include Marie Keating’s ‘Positive Living’ programme for women living with metastatic breast cancer, as well as the six-week Survive & Thrive programmes, which help women adjust to their ‘new normal’ after treatment.

Pink Patrons

The Marie Keating Foundation’s ‘Pink Patrons’ are not just raising money; they are also helping to spread awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Some of the brands helping to support that message include ghd, Elemis, Shaw’s Department Store, Skechers, Pigsback.com, Grafton Barbers, Harvey Norman, Marks and Spencer, MAD Flowers, Catwalk HQ Tan, Vero Moda and Jo Harpur Jewellery. Here’s how you can help…

Marks & Spencer 

Marks & Spencer is going pink this September to support the valuable work of the Marie Keating Foundation. 25% of the sales of 12 of their sleepwear ranges will be donated to the Marie Keating Foundation to help support their work. These sleepwear ranges are available in stores nationwide and on marksandspencer.ie.

MAD Flowers 

MAD Flowers has designed a special Rose and Lily Pink Bouquet to raise awareness this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The bouquet features pretty pink roses, dainty white gypsophila florets and luxury sweet-scented oriental pink lilies – all held together in a beautiful glass vase.

For every bouquet sold, MAD Flowers will donate €5 to the Marie Keating Foundation to help support the charity’s work in the battle against breast cancer. The bouquet can be purchased online at madflowers.com for €49 (RRP €65).

Skechers

Skechers Ireland is committed to supporting the Marie Keating Foundation and its vital services. For every pair of  ‘Go Walk Joy’ and ‘Go Run Focus’ shoes sold, €5 of the RRP will be donated to the charity.

The lightweight, responsive walking shoes are available from Skechers stores and Shaw’s department stores nationwide while stocks last. What’s more, each shoe includes the classic breast cancer awareness pink ribbon on the heel.

Catwalk HQ Tans 

Catwalk HQ tans will be selling tanning goodie bags (including a mixture of mousse and lotion tans) for the month of October in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation.

For every bottle of tan sold online or instore, Catwalk HQ will give a 50c donation to support the services of the charity. The goodie bags are available to buy online or in Catwalk HQ tan stockists, a full list of which can be found at catwalkhq.com.

Jo Harpur Jewellery 

Jo Harpur Jewellery is also raising awareness this Breast Cancer Awareness Month; with 5% of the sales of the ‘Dream’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Love’ necklaces going towards the Marie Keating Foundation.

The disks are sterling silver with gold plating, and they are engraved in a Celtic Irish font with Swarovski Stones with the words ‘Dream’, ‘Hope’ or ‘Love’. These necklaces are available for purchase online at jo-harpur-jewellery.com.

Harvey Norman 

Harvey Norman has agreed to set up an ‘Add a Euro at the till’ in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation this October.  Customers will be asked if they would like to donate while they are paying at all till points throughout their 12 stores in the Republic of Ireland.

Harvey Norman will also run in-store fundraisers; such as bake sales, ‘Pink’ fancy dress days and sponsored walks all in aid of the charity.

The Grafton Barber

The Grafton Barber is proud to announce that for the first time ever, it will be ‘going pink’ in October.

A special, limited edition of the brand’s signature golf umbrella will be exclusively available in ‘Marie Keating Pink’. It will be available from any one of the 41 stores across the country throughout the month of October. The umbrellas will be on sale for €15 and a donation will be made from the sale of each umbrella.

Pigsback.com 

Pigsback.com is holding its annual Pigsback 5k and 10k run/walk in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation at 10 am on Sunday, October 13 in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Registration for the event is €25 for both the 5km and 10km events; with all proceeds going to fund the charity’s life-saving work in breast cancer.

Registration can take place on the day or at mariekeating.ie/events.

More brands donating to breast cancer awareness charities

ghd

Hair tools brand, ghd has been supporting breast cancer charities around the world for 15 years, and this year is no different.

The company has partnered with tattoo artist David Allen to design a limited edition ghd range based on his tattoo work with mastectomy scars, a mission he began with women looking to take back control of their femininity with bodies they no longer recognised or felt connected to.

With every limited edition pink styler sold, ghd will donate €10 the Irish Cancer Society.

ELEMIS

Beauty brand ELEMIS is proud to continue supporting Breast Cancer Care for another year with the supersized Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 100 ml.

“We are so proud to partner with Breast Cancer Care again this year. This organisation’s work is close to our hearts,” said Noella Gabriel, ELEMIS Co-Founder.

“It is with great pleasure that we continue to support their mission. As always, we will be donating £25,000 to Breast Cancer Care regardless of the product sales.”

Vero Moda

Vero Moda will be launching two exclusive limited-edition necklaces which will be available for €7.99. The full proceeds of these will be donated to Breast Cancer Ireland.

Photo: Pexels

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