Breast Cancer Now’s helpline started back in 1972, when it was the UK’s first helpline for people affected by breast cancer.  Since Tickled Pink began in 1996, Asda has proudly supported this lifeline. 

Since 2011, 89% of people phoning the helpline said it helped them make more informed decisions. It gave them new knowledge and information. It made them feel less alone. That’s life-changing. And in the last 3 years alone that figure has risen to 93%.  

“The helpline is amazing. The nurses have been fantastic - they have helped me through some of my darkest moments.”

Asda Tickled Pink has funded 2 Breast Cancer Now nurses since 2019, with one nurse specialising in screening and the other in breast awareness. Today these nurses are the wonderful Elli and Jane who are picking up the phones and responding to emails daily - the support they give really is invaluable.  

Call 0808 800 6000 to speak to specialist nurses and trained staff. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am–4pm, and Saturday, 9am–1pm.

People don’t always feel “back to normal” when they finish hospital treatment for primary breast cancer. Coping with the shock of their diagnosis, treatment and side effects, as well as worries about recurrence, can make it hard to readjust to everyday life.

That’s why Breast Cancer Now’s Moving Forward service is here. Through supportive, open conversations in a safe, confidential space, people can connect in person with others who understand. And Moving Forward gives them the tools to adjust to life beyond treatment.

Since it started in 2008, over 38,000 women have used the service. With 95% rating the course as excellent, these groups are a real winner. There’s even one special group meeting hosted at our Asda Cardiff Bay store in Wales.

“Hearing other people's experiences made me feel less isolated and gave me a bit more confidence for the future.”

Breast Cancer Now’s support services are free for anyone. But for some people, the cost of travel, accommodation or other practical arrangements can still make it hard to access support. That’s why we’re proud to fully fund Breast Cancer Now’s Access Fund.

It helps remove those final barriers, making sure more people can get to the life-changing support they need.

Here’s a snapshot of what the Access Fund has made possible: 

- It’s paid for afterschool childcare for a Mum travelling to a support group in Bristol. 

- It’s paid for taxis, trains and, in one case, a van to transport a specialist chair to a support group, so someone could attend comfortably.

- It’s paid for interpreters like a whispering interpreter to help a Polish service user and a British Sign Language interpreter for a deaf service user at a Moving Forward course. 

- It’s even covered flights for people who live far from support, including someone travelling from the Outer Hebrides to attend a support group in Stirling.  

No matter what it takes to get people to the breast cancer support service they need, the Access Fund is here to help. 

“Having access to funding enabled me to travel a day early and took away the stress of cost for parking and hotel. I suffer with severe anxiety and this charity really helped to support my needs and understand my financial struggles, for which I am very grateful.’’