Europa Donna Ireland - The Irish Breast Cancer Campaign was launched in 1998 as an advocacy group and is one of 47 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.
In support of its mission and to achieve its vision Europa Donna Ireland publishes information leaflets and newsletters and organises information seminars and conferences. Europa Donna Ireland 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, Europa Donna Ireland brought the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to Ireland.
Achievements
Europa Donna Ireland has:
- published the Irish Breast Cancer Charter
- 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
- developed and published information such as e-newsletters, a guide to specialist breast centres and several leaflets such as Breast Cancer and Fertility and 9 things you should know about breast cancer
- participated in lobbying at European level
- encouraged and co-ordinated national exercise events for Breast Health Day on 15th October each year
- launched the 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.