Walk The Walk, the breast cancer research and cancer care charity, is funding a long-term initiative to ensure hair loss prevention systems are available to all hospitals in the UK offering chemotherapy treatment. The grant funding scheme will see £5 million investment, which will drastically reduce the current postcode lottery around such treatments. The ultimate goal by 2011 is to ensure every eligible* cancer patient within the UK is made aware of the innovative hair loss prevention treatment and offered the option of benefiting from it.

Scalp coolers have been used in the UK for over 30 years, however hospitals offering chemotherapy services do not have the resources to fund such treatments themselves. More often than not, the use of scalp coolers is not seen as an immediate medical priority as the treatment does not have a 'life or death' impact. What is often overlooked however is the emotional and devastating psychological effect hair loss can have on cancer sufferers who are trying to cling onto a sense of normality and dignity.

Walk The Walk believes so strongly in the positive outcome of hair loss prevention treatments that it aims to roll out grant funding schemes for at least 600 Paxman Systems within the next 5 years. With over 275,280* cancer cases diagnosed annually, a hugely significant number of patients receiving chemotherapy will have the opportunity to benefit from the unique treatment. Training of nursing staff and maintenance of the machines will also be covered by the charity.

Founder of Walk The Walk Nina Barough commented: "Many people are not even aware of the existence of these machines, let alone offered the treatment by their hospital. Over the past years I have witnessed the terrible impact that hair loss can have not only on the cancer patient but also on their families, particularly children. It is our belief that all patients should be offered this treatment and have the right to make their own choice." Source - Cancer Research UK

The fundraising efforts of all of the supporters of Walk the Walk will ensure that hundreds if women will keep their hair during their chemotherapy treatment.

“Keeping my hair made my life normal, nobody needed to know that I had breast cancer unless I told them. I didn't want people looking at me and feeling sorry for me. It meant my 7 year old daughter didn't have to explain to her friends why her mummy had no hair.It made a huge difference to my quality of life - it's a life saver.”
Testimonial from Debbie Wolfe who was treated at Bristol Hospital

For more information regarding Walk The Walk, please visit our website by clicking here

To view the hospitals that have benefited please click here