Kilkenny-based shower enclosure manufacturer Merlyn and the Pink Ribbon Foundation have launched a new campaign together, urging people to use time behind the shower screen to check for early warning signs of breast cancer.
With 47% of UK women still not actively checking for breast cancer symptoms, the UK-wide #MySanctuary campaign is highlighting how more ‘screen time’ could save lives.
“Many of the breast cancer charities we help fund have highlighted the worrying, longer-term impact of COVID on diagnosis and treatment. We know around one million women in the UK have recently missed NHS breast screenings, so it’s important that anything out of the norm is picked up as soon as possible,” says the Pink Ribbon Foundation head of corporate partnerships, Lisa Allen.
“Showering is one of the best times to check your breasts. In fact, it's the most common place that women pick up on any changes to their bodies. That's why the partnership with Merlyn to launch the #MySanctuary initiative is such a natural one. Our aim is to get women to truly pay attention to themselves – especially with everything else that's been going on."
The campaign, which includes top tips and bathroom design advice for creating the optimum setting for some all-important self-care, is set to run across the partners' digital channels, and will include press and influencer engagement.
Merlyn’s marketing manager, Eileen Slattery, said: “The bathroom has long been a symbol of revitalisation and self-care. The pandemic has taught us that being well is a precious gift and we must care for our health and wellbeing. If we can get people to linger that little bit longer in the bathroom – we would ask them to spend those vital moments of self-care to check themselves for any changes or abnormalities. We hope we can play some small part in combating this life-threatening disease."
For every Arysto X shower enclosure sold in 2021, Merlyn has pledged to make a donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation, in a continuing bid to support the organisation’s mission to fund projects and provide financial support to UK breast cancer charities.