About Europa Donna Ireland
Europa Donna Ireland (EDI), The Irish Breast Cancer Campaign, was launched in 1998 as an advocacy group and is one of 46 EUROPA DONNA member countries across Europe. EUROPA DONNA - The European Breast Cancer Coalition was founded in Italy in 1993 and is the breast cancer advocacy organisation for Europe.
Europa Donna Ireland is a volunteer run organisation whose membership is largely made up of people with experience of breast cancer and it is a registered charity.
EDI Mission
To bring the voice of the woman with experience of breast cancer
- To raising awareness of the need for screening and access for all women to best quality specialist centres
- To campaign for evidence-based, best practice health policy changes to ensure this happens
EDI Vision
- That women of all ages in Ireland will know what they can and should expect in terms of risk, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and support in order to improve early detection rates and survival rates.
In support of its mission and to achieve its vision EDI publishes information leaflets and newsletters and organises information seminars and conferences. EDI lobbies decision makers and politicians at local, national and European level and highlights breast cancer issues through the media. In partnership with the Irish Cancer Society, EDI brought the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to Ireland.
Achievements
Europa Donna Ireland has
- published the Irish Breast Cancer Charter (PDF 65KB)
- organised two National Conferences in 2006 and 2008
- brought the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to Ireland
- successfully lobbied politicians and decision makers at local and national level
- highlighted breast cancer issues through the media
- made submissions to relevant government commissions and working groups
- published Europa Donna Newsletters, a Guide to Specialist Breast Centres and leaflets "Fertility and Breast Cancer" as well as "9 things you should know about breast cancer".
- participated in lobbying at European level
- Encourages and co-ordinates national exercise events for Breast Health Day on 15th October
- Launched leaflet "9 things you should know about breast cancer" which was distributed to a quarter of a million households around the country. The leaflet won the Crystal Clear Literacy Award in April 2010