The moment I met Sarah I knew we had a bond

DUCHESS JOINS CORRIE STAR TO BECOME PATRON OF PREVENT BREAST CANCER

- DIANNE BOURNE

THE Duchess of York has become a patron of the charity Prevent Breast Cancer and vowed to do all she can to raise awareness of the importance of prevention and early detection.

Following her own experience of breast cancer in 2023, the Duchess has joined forces with the UK charity to help promote its work and fundraise for a new National Breast Imaging Academy.

She was introduced to the charity by Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor, who is also a patron, when they both appeared on Loose Women. The pair discussed their personal experiences of breast cancer on the ITV show this summer, prompting Sally to introduce the Duchess to Prevent Breast Cancer.

The two women joined forced yesterday in Wythenshawe on as the charity launched a public appeal as it aims to raise £600,000 to secure the future of the National Breast Imaging Academy in Manchester. Its aim is to train 50 new breast imaging specialists a year to benefit and strengthen breast services across the UK, as well as increasing screening capacity in Manchester by 13,000 appointments annually.

Commenting on her new patronage, Sarah, Duchess of York, said: "I know first-hand what it feels like to hear the words 'breast cancer' and learn that you are facing a life-changing diagnosis, course of treatment and recovery. It's the news everyone dreads but I consider myself one of the lucky ones, because my cancer was caught early at a routine mammogram which meant that my prognosis was good.