Fighting To Be Heard

‘???? ??????'?? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ??????????. ???? ?????? ??????????????????. ???? ?????? ???????????????? ???? ???? ??????????. ???????????????? ?????? ?? ?????????? ?????? ?????? 35,000 ???????????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ????.’ -?@make2ndscount

Some time ago in 2019, I was asked to create a portrait of a 30-year-old businesswoman and professional skin health expert??Kate McIver. At that time, she had stage 4 cancer (secondary breast cancer). Despite all the medication and chemos, she was an amazingly optimistic and energetic young woman spearheading her fast-growing skincare brand while surrounded by her loving husband and a three-year-old daughter.?Barely 2 months later, I learned that she passed away.?It was an eye-opening realization of how fast cancer could everyone’s lives turn lives upside down, sparing no one on its way.

The following year my husband and creative partner Marius was diagnosed with one of the most deadly forms of cancer - Pancreatic cancer. Luckily, his treatment has been successful so far.

I've read that statistically, almost 1 in 2 will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.??It’s a horrible condition with an almost worse selection of treatment options. While research has made great strides in battling many forms of cancer, it’s a long way from ‘more humane’ treatments ending in happy stories about saved loved ones.

Kate McIver never stood a chance. Secondary breast cancer is not understood?well enough?to offer much hope to its victims. There are approximately 35 000 people in the UK alone carrying this heartbreaking medical label.

Recently, @KathrynOrr, who used to work with Kate, approached us again asking to create a campaign for Make 2nds Count, a charity that gives voice to those affected by Secondary Breast Cancer. We felt both honoured and privileged. It was very personal to us.

We may be lost and not know how to contribute to which cause or even feel guilty about it. But sometimes it’s just a matter of starting a conversation. It may be a grain of sand in the sea but when enough grains stick together they can break tides of any size. We hope the image will help start that conversation.

Photography is more than just a picture worth a thousand words. It is often the reason for stories to be newsworthy again. In this case, it’s a story about 20 women with secondary breast cancer, hanging their gloves in an unfair fight that they cannot win.

Make 2nds Count will make secondaries count. Help us to share, inform, research, fundraise, support, fight, and?#shoutaboutsecondaries . For patients and their families.?

Thank you?@LisaFleming - Founder of the Charity?@secondarybreastcancerandme ?for making us all aware of the cause!?

Thank you Victoria?@vixruss29 ,?the team at?@propertyalliancegroup , and?@loftcreative.co.uk ?in supporting M2C and putting the?campaign?on billboards around the UK. Including the 2nd largest digital screen in Europe?@victoriawarehouse !??

Thank you @SimonaVaicyte for??your digital skills!?

Thank you Wayne Smith for the wonderful location, a very famous boxing gym - Golden Gloves Gym!?

Thank you make up and hair team! You were amazing!?

And most importantly, thank you, @KathrynOrr and your team @CharlieFoy, @SadieMcKay?for organising this powerful day! You had so little time but what you've managed to organise is beyond words! Thank you!?

#make2ndscount ?#makesecondscount ?#domoreforstage4 #stage4needsmore ?#cancersupport ?#secondarybreastcancer #metastaticbreastcancer ?#sbc ?#mbc ?#support ?#charity #breastcancer ??#stage4cancer ?#cancerstories

Thank you make up and hair team! You were amazing!?

@dollbeauty

@uftmakeovers

@bambeauty.lpl

@sophiecampbellmua

@glitznglamhairandbeauty

PARTNERS:

@Lolaslashes @FraserAngus

@annsummers

@thinkwinegroup?

@shanklyhotel

Big THANK YOU to the best models ever:?

@LisaFleming - Founder of the Charity?@secondarybreastcancerandme ?

@LizziEngland -?@lizzi_england

@VickiKeating -?@vicky_keating90

@EmilyRoberts -?@makingthe.breast.ofit

@CathySnape-?@cathysnape7 ?

@Sally-AnnNyland?@sally1tit ?

@EmmaCampbell - @limitless_em

@NatalieWhite?@natalieannew85 ?

@JeannieAmbrose?@jambeannie ?

@GillCory-?@barefoot_travel_uk ?

@JackieTalbot?@jax1970 ?

@FranWhitfield -?@franwhitfield

@NikkiWilliams -?@spinalnikki ?

@LesleyGraney -?@graneyrice_living_with ?

@LauraBailey -?@thatmumwithcancer

@KimberelyNoble -?@kimberlynoble_cancerbattles ?

@SarahLarner -?@this_wasnt_the_plan

@RoisinPelan -?@cancerfightingpantsareon ?

@KateRackham-?@krackers11 ?

@LisaJones -?@lisad_cancerandme ?