Jennie
'The hardest calls I have ever had to make'
Jennie Sullivan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016, when she was only 41. After her treatment, she was determined to spread awareness, including modelling for the cancer charity, Maggie’s, where she got to know Margo Cornish, one of Prevent Breast Cancer’s Patrons.
Fast forward to 2019, and Jennie jumped at the chance to join our initial BooBee campaign, Breast Fest. This campaign was the brainchild of Margo, and saw 100 women, affectionately known as BooBees, who had been affected by breast cancer join together to spread awareness and fundraise for a future without breast cancer.
We are delighted that Jennie has once again signed up as a BooBee Ambassador as part of our newest, vitally important drive – BooBee’s Big Campaign.
All our BooBees are raring to go and would love for you to join them for their flagship fundraising event - BooBee presents Bingo Bedlam - a high-octane evening of emotion, inspiration and FUN at Manchester Central on November 19th.
Jennie is keen to continue the important work that was started in 2019 and has very kindly shared her breast cancer journey with us and explained why she has once again come on board as a BooBee in support of Prevent Breast Cancer.
Can you tell us a bit about your diagnosis?
I was diagnosed on 10th June 2016 and treated at North Manchester General and The Christie. My treatment included 7 cycles of Neo-adjuvant EC-T chemotherapy and I also had a left mastectomy and axillary node clearance. This was followed by 15 rounds of Adjuvant radiotherapy, which I completed on 8th March 2017.
Did you have any family history of breast cancer?
There was no family history of cancer, so it was a complete shock, made worse by the fact that my partner had only recently been diagnosed with cancer in October 2015 and he had decided against his treatment. I had to ring my parents and then him, followed by my three sisters, which were the hardest calls I have ever had to make.
Why did you initially become a BooBee Ambassador in 2019?
I knew Margo previously because of her fundraising for Maggie’s, and I’d modelled in one of her events called ‘On The Runway’. I did this as I wanted to gain my confidence back and wanted to help get the message out there that cancer can affect anyone regardless of age, race etc
When Margo asked for volunteers again for Breastfest, I was happy to get involved without a second thought because working with Margo previously meant I knew just how big a campaign it would be. Making people check and get things checked out is half the battle to get the numbers down and I also want and still do, to prevent breast cancer.
What inspired you to take part in BooBee’s Big Campaign again this year?
To get involved again was simple because if I can stop one woman or man going through what I have, then I have achieved something massive. I also want to help the new group to get the confidence and the friendships that I have gained through my experience in 2019. I am passionate about awareness and education, plus it will be a lot of fun, while getting the serious message out.
I am a big advocate for breast cancer awareness, and I am currently working alongside two businesswomen to get people to declutter and send their bras to us. We then send them to Against Breast Cancer where they are weighed before being sent to Africa to help empower women and stop them going to landfill. So far, in just over a year, we have collected 3,500 bras and we aim to keep collecting and raising awareness within our Facebook group The BraVoo Tribe.