Why it matters: The Bake It Pink event at Endeavour House in Ipswich demonstrates the power of workplace solidarity during difficult times, whilst raising funds for vital breast cancer research that could one day eradicate the disease.
The big picture: Julie, a mother of two who works at the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. After a period of remission, she received the shocking news earlier this month that she now has secondary breast cancer, meaning the cancer has spread to other parts of her body.
Despite this, Julie has remained a passionate advocate for early detection. Her campaigning efforts were recognised earlier this year with a Royal Garden Party invitation in recognition of her work.
The details: The cake-baking event, held on 22 October at the ICB's Endeavour House office, raised £679 thanks to home-baking efforts and generous donations from staff. Management accountant Linda Goodey organised the event.
What they're saying: Julie said, "The news that the cancer has now spread has been quite a shock for myself and my family. I've gone from leading a full, active life to being restricted on what I can and can't do within a matter of days.
"What has made a huge difference is the kindness and compassion shown by my work colleagues, and the love they have shown me is just incredible and means so much.
"The team at Ipswich Hospital is doing all they can to fix broken bones and treat the cancer to reduce and remove the tumours. Events like Bake It Pink give me a huge boost and help keep me positive.
"Thank you to all my colleagues for your kind words and compassion."
Linda Goodey added: "Julie is an inspiration to us all, and despite her current health challenges, remains hugely positive, and we are proud of her resilience during this time of adversity. We wanted to show Julie how much she means to us, as well as raising funds to support research that will hopefully mean one day breast cancer will be eradicated."
Her message: Julie emphasised the importance of self-examination: "The very best way people can show their support is to regularly keep checking themselves for any changes anywhere in their bodies and go to the GP if you're worried or have concerns."
The bottom line: Even whilst facing secondary cancer, Julie continues to champion the message that has driven her campaigning since 2018: regular self-checks and early medical advice can save lives.
