Sunday 11 October 2015: A WOMAN is campaigning to increase cancer awareness in Asian communities after losing family and friends to the disease.
Mandip Sahota, 40, is hoping to break down taboos while making people more aware of the signs and symptoms to watch out for, the ongoing research to find new treatments and the support available for people living with cancer.
Miss Sahota, a civil servant from Bradford, is also using the Asian Cancer Awareness Campaign to raise money for two charities important to her, the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford and Cancer Research UK.
Miss Sahota said: "After hearing about more and more family and friends affected by cancer, I wanted to take action."
She said in the Asian community there was a lack of awareness about spotting the signs of cancer, knowing when to visit the doctor or how to do personal checks.
She said this was often then coupled with a fear of discussing cancer with the opposite sex, or of even saying the word.
She said: "Finally, I think this is all compounded in faith communities who consider it kismet [destiny] and don't go for checks or talk about it.
"I want to help in two ways - to raise awareness and raise funds on behalf of two great charities, Cancer Research UK, who have helped double survival rates in the last 40 years, and Marie Curie, an amazing hospice right in the heart of Bradford."
Last week, Miss Sahota arranged for Cancer Research UK's cancer awareness roadshow to come to Bradford's biggest Sikh Gurdwara, the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, on Leeds Road.
There, a team of cancer nurses were on hand to answer any questions about the disease and hand out information leaflets.
Miss Sahota said: "The President of the Gurdwara has been immensely supportive and on the day the 500-strong congregation turned out in force, with lines forming for a full four hours to see the fantastic Cancer Research UK roadshow team.
"We even raised over £2,000 from a collection and I hope this is the first of what turns out to be annual event."
Her next event is a fundraiser at Ventnor Hall, Ventnor Street, Bradford, on November 21.
Jenny Murgatroyd, regional fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK, said: "We are extremely impressed with Mandip’s passion and determination to raise both awareness of cancer in her community, and funds to help beat cancer sooner.
"We have already been extremely pleased by how many people visited the Cancer Research UK awareness roadshow when it visited, showing that the community really want to know more about how prevention and symptoms of cancer."
Leah Mitchell, community fundraiser for Marie Curie, said: "We think what Mandip is doing within the community is fantastic and we hope her efforts into raising awareness of cancer truly make a difference."
Mandip Sahota, left, joined by the Ventnor Hall team and roadshow attendees