When Laura watched her grandmother battle breast cancer, first in 2016, then again in 2020, she felt powerless. But those difficult years shaped her understanding of resilience, hope, and strength of community. Now, she’s turning that experience into action by organising a charity walk in Liverpool during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now.
“Breast Cancer Now have been super, super close to my family.” Laura said. “They’ve helped us personally so I wanted to do something big and exciting for them. This event brings people together, which is a big thing of what charity is about.”
The charity walk, on October 18th, will showcase dozens of people exploring Liverpool’s most iconic landmarks – including parts of the waterfront, the city centre and local parks. What began as a small idea between friends has quickly gained momentum, attracting attention from students and families across the city.
For Laura, the walk is much more than a fundraiser. It’s a personal tribute to her grandmother’s courage in battling breast cancer twice. Seeing her Nan’s determination and strength during treatment motivated Laura to take action beyond her immediate circle.
The process of transforming that emotion into something positive was not easy. Balancing her studies and organising the logistics has proved challenging, yet the sense of purpose has made every challenge worthwhile.
Rather than focusing solely on donations, Laura’s goal has been to create a space for connection – somewhere people can walk, converse and share their own experiences. “Bringing all 53 clubs together to one event is special, walking through Liverpool and hopefully people mingle and share how they’ve been effected,” she said.
The word of the walk has spread quickly, with student unions, individuals and companies participating in the event – capturing the community spirit that Merseyside is known for. “The union have been amazing. They’ve given me ridiculous support in promoting the event and even offering amazing prizes for people to join in, such as certain donation amounts will get you a free massage, a free hoodie from Castore and a free gym membership,” she added.
While the walk will raise funds for Breast Cancer Now, Laura also hopes it will inspire awareness. One in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime – a statistic that has been incredibly painful to her family since 2016. She hopes it will encourage conversations about early detection and encourage others to take action in their own ways.
Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, providing pioneering research and providing vital support to those affected by the disease. Donations help fund life-saving research, increase awareness of early detection and provide emotional support for patients and their families. “We had amazing support from the charity; they were with her every step of the way. They made the treatment seem less scary than it actually is. They’ve helped her to recover really well,” she added.
Laura believes more needs to be done to increase awareness of breast cancer and hopes the walk can contribute to conversations about the illness. It is a moment she and her family will always cherish due to the impact it has had on her life. “Let’s remove the stigma,” she says. “It’s not a dirty word. Yes, it can be a very daunting experience and it’s always going to be scary. Making sure the person affected is not lonely is half the battle and them being able to access the right resources is important.”
On the day, walkers will gather in pink, carrying photos and messages for their loved ones. For Laura, each step will be a reminder of her grandmother’s strength – and of how personal experience can be a catalyst for community action.
“Cancer can be a daunting process, but you don’t need to do it alone at all. I want to bring communities together,” she adds.
For everyone taking part in the walk, particularly Laura, those steps are for the present and also providing hope for the future, while also supporting the life-saving work provided by Breast Cancer Now.
Details about the walk and how to donate can be found on Instagram @livuni_aupresboycie.
