MP wins award for services to breast cancer campaigning

Jim Dobbbin with Annette Brooke MP and Paul Burstow, Minister for Care Services

MP for Heywood and Middleton, Jim Dobbin has won the 2010 Breakthrough Pasty Calton Award for services to breast cancer campaigning.

Mr Dobbin received the award from UK Charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer on Monday (12 July 2010).

The award, now in its fifth year, recognises the exceptional achievements of parliamentarians who are committed to campaigning for improvements in breast cancer research, services and treatments.

The award is named in memory of Patsy Calton MP, an outstanding advocate for people affected by breast cancer, who sadly died from the disease in May 2005. 

Mr Dobbin was nominated by three local Breakthrough Breast Cancer Campaign and Advocacy Network (CAN) members.

Mary Jennings, Mal McCall and Christine Abbott, from Middleton, nominated Jim for his commitment to campaigning on behalf of people affected by breast cancer, and his work to improve local breast cancer services.

All three women praised Jim for his tremendous support and his willingness to help and encourage their campaigning efforts.

Mary Jennings, from Middleton, said: “I am delighted to hear that Jim has won the Breakthrough Patsy Calton Award. I was keen to nominate him, as he has played a key role in supporting my local campaigning. Jim is always willing to write a letter or get in touch with anyone who he thinks will help my campaign and has been a valuable source of support and advice”

Mal McCall and Christine Abbott, sisters from Middleton, commented: “It is fantastic news that Jim has won the Breakthrough Patsy Calton Award. We nominated him as he has been an important ally of the Demesne Cancer Support Group and has helped us to take our campaigning to the next level, securing Mal a place at the Labour Party Conference last year. As a result of this opportunity, we were able to interview the then Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, in the run-up to the General Election in May.”

Mr Dobbin said:” I am honoured to receive this prestigious award, and I am so proud to be recognised in my campaigning work for such an important and influential charity. I would like to thank my constituents for nominating me, and I pledge to continue to work closely with them on all their breast cancer campaigns.”

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer added:
“I am thrilled that Jim Dobbin MP is the winner of this year’s Breakthrough Patsy Calton Award. Jim has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of breast cancer and improve services for patients in his constituency – he is a fantastic example of how MPs can make a real difference for people affected by breast cancer.”

The Breakthrough Patsy Calton Award was presented to Mr Dobbin at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Annual Parliamentary Reception, which took place at the House of Commons and was attended by over 80 MPs and Peers.