Lobular Moon Shot Project Campaigners Meet Secretary of State Wes Streeting
Yesterday, Monday 14th July, Lobular Moon Shot Project campaigners met with Secretary of State The Rt Hon Wes Streeting; Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth; and the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Lucy Chappell to discuss how to move vital lobular breast cancer research forward.
Lobular Moon Shot Project Founder, Dr Susan Michaelis was due to attend the meeting but tragically she passed away from this cruel disease last Wednesday 9th July, just five days before it was scheduled to take place. Campaigners including Susan’s husband Tristan Loraine, her brother John Michaelis and Alison Livingstone, Kate Ford, Katie Swinburne, Kirstin Spencer and Sarah Ramsay Smith pressed ahead with the meeting to ensure Susan’s work is completed. Tristan, Katie, Kirstin and Kate read preprepared speeches outlining Susan’s life and legacy, the campaign, it’s immense support and the desperate need for the 22 women who are diagnosed every day in the UK with this disease to have a positive outcome.
Statement from Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting following yesterday's meeting:
“I’m so grateful the team from the Lobular Moon Shot project took the time to meet me today, less than a week since losing Dr Susan Michaelis, their founder and the driving force behind the campaign.
"This is an under researched disease and I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak to campaigners to understand how we can bring together academics, charities, and industry to improve our understanding of lobular breast cancer which goes undetected in too many women and robs too many families of mums, sisters, and daughters.
“Everyone is determined to honour Susan’s legacy. I’ve asked our Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Lucy Chappell to bring campaigners and researchers together to plot a path forward to understand the biology behind this cancer, so that we can make a difference to the women affected.”
"This is an under researched disease and I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak to campaigners to understand how we can bring together academics, charities, and industry to improve our understanding of lobular breast cancer which goes undetected in too many women and robs too many families of mums, sisters, and daughters.
“Everyone is determined to honour Susan’s legacy. I’ve asked our Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Lucy Chappell to bring campaigners and researchers together to plot a path forward to understand the biology behind this cancer, so that we can make a difference to the women affected.”
We are very happy with the progress made yesterday. We will continue campaigning until the funding is in place and Susan’s work is complete.
Tristan Loraine gave an interview on GMB this morning where he said, the campaign would not stop until the research is funded. After the interview he said, "My wife would hope the government expedite this project. The 22 women who are diagnosed with this disease every day will not receive a specific treatment until the basic biology of lobular breast cancer is understood."
Campaigners across the nation are available to discuss how this disease has impacted their lives.
Campaigners across the nation are available to discuss how this disease has impacted their lives.
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Media coverage – Monday 14th July and Tuesday 15th July:
BBC South East News – Interview with Tristan – afternoon and evening bulletin – 14th July
GMB - Interview with Tristan – 15th July
BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98wrp15320o
BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c628668j5plo
Daily Mirror - https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/good-morning-britain-host-apologises-35556267
Daily Express - https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2081911/gmb-charlotte-hawkins-breaks-down
Entertainment Daily - https://www.entertainmentdaily.com/tv/good-morning-britain-charlotte-hawkins-tears-tragic-death/
Wales Online - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/good-morning-britain-star-fights-32060664
GMB - Interview with Tristan – 15th July
BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c98wrp15320o
BBC - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c628668j5plo
Daily Mirror - https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/good-morning-britain-host-apologises-35556267
Daily Express - https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2081911/gmb-charlotte-hawkins-breaks-down
Entertainment Daily - https://www.entertainmentdaily.com/tv/good-morning-britain-charlotte-hawkins-tears-tragic-death/
Wales Online - https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/good-morning-britain-star-fights-32060664
Link to images of the campaigners outside the Department of Health yesterday:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EGwKZVl25tIG7O9xqL1f_ZkcIkks3-JF?usp=sharing
Media Contact:
Kate Ford
kate@jumppr.tv
077409 48065