OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Breast Cancer Haven Wessex is organising a huge raft of events to help raise awareness of breast cancer and funds, to help women and men with breast cancer.

Events of all shapes and sizes are set to take place across the region, from iconic buildings turning pink to pink ribbon manicures, and everything in between, with the aim of raising at least £40,000.

Breast Cancer Haven Wessex aims to to improve the quality of life for people affected by breast cancer by providing personalised emotional, practical and physical support.

They work with and support service users – both men and women – in their desire to have control over their breast cancer journey.

They offer advice on practical things like money and work, help combatting stress, exhaustion and nausea, advice on healthy eating and exercise, with a team of nurses, therapists, counsellors and advisers.

Service users are offered up to ten free hours of supportive therapy time, and receive two hours’ of nurse specialist time at the beginning and end of their tailored programme.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month got underway in striking fashion, with a number of well known buildings being lit up pink on October 1, including the Mayflower Theatre, O2 Guildhall Southampton, Winchester Clock Tower, Itchen College the Emirates Spinnaker Tower and Southsea Pier.

There will be laughs on offer at the Hugh Dennis Haven’t the Foggiest Quiz Winchester Guildhall on October 11, where teams of ten can do battle with one another over who are the biggest egg heads.

And, for those who prefer thrills to laughs, there is the chance to raise funds by taking part in a skydive on October 8, near Salisbury.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of opportunities to go pink, with pumpkin painting, wearing a pink shirt to work, nail and beauty salons offering a pink ribbon manicure or another way of turning yourself or something else pink for sponsorship of your own – last year one woman was sponsored to cover herself in as many layers of pink as possible, reaching an impressive total of 126, including pink face paint and hair dye!

Squatober is a call to action for gyms/personal trainers/exercise classes/ clubs to take part in Breast Cancer Haven Wessex’s challenge, with groups performing sponsored squats en masse.

And if that sounds too much like hard work, you could head to Chewton Glen for a treatment of your choice and use of the spa and leisure facilities at one of their Think Pink Spa Days.

There are lots more activities taking place throughout the region, or you could organise your own.

Heidi Rehman Community Fundraiser at Breast Cancer Haven Wessex, said “We are hoping that our region really gets behind Breast Cancer Haven in October, breast cancer awareness month.

“It’s important that our community helps us support local people affected by the disease by helping us with fundraising and awareness raising activities.

“There are so many different ways to get involved, whether it be with your colleagues, friends or family.

“Our visitors are coming from the whole of the southern region, as far as Weymouth, Salisbury, Brighton, Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands, and with help from our community we can ensure that we reach those that need our support.”

For more information about all the events being organised by Breast Cancer Haven Wessex, visit the Wessex fundraising pages at the Breast Cancer Haven website (breastcancerhaven.org.uk/Event/breast-cancer-haven-awareness-month-in-wessex)