Pioneering tissue bank opens thanks to Tickled Pink appeal

The world’s first national breast cancer tissue bank opened this month thanks to support from our Tickled Pink campaign.

Colleagues from Asda Nottingham are visiting the Breast Cancer Campaign Tissue Bank at the University of Nottingham today for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the pioneering centre.

Their visit marks the official opening of the central tissue bank which holds 2,500 patient tissue samples and makes it much easier for scientists in the UK and Ireland to find suitable samples and share information.

Previously scientists could spend many months trying to track down samples and materials for their research depending on where they were based.

The samples are now held at four centres around the UK including Nottingham. Judith McKenna, our chief operating officer and Tickeld Pink ambassador, recorded this video (above) when she visited one of the centres last year.

It has cost £4 million to date to create this vital resource and half of this money has come from Asda customers and colleagues through Tickled Pink donations in 2010 and 2011.

We’ve raised more than £25 million for Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care since Tickled Pink began 15 years ago.

Judith McKenna said: "The launch of this pioneering Tissue Bank is Nottingham is only possible because of the continued support we receive for Asda’s Tickled Pink campaign from customers and colleagues.

“We would like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication over the past 15 years. We hope this will play a significant role in helping the thousands of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.”

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive, Breast Cancer Campaign said, “Without the support of Asda’s Tickled Pink and the fantastic fundraising efforts of Asda Colleagues this project would never have got off the ground. We are delighted to have the opportunity to thank them personally for their support and show them the amazing work that is being done here in Nottingham.”