Marks & Spencer is making a big change to the packaging of one product that is essential to each and every household. The high street store is hoping the move will help save lives and raise awareness of a life threatening disease.
M&S will be adding bowel cancer signs and symptoms onto the packaging of its toilet roll to help spread the message with their 30 million customers. The move comes just weeks after the brave Deborah James who is also known as BowelBabe revealed that she is receiving end-of-life care at her parents' home as a result of bowel cancer.
The new partnership is with Bowel Cancer UK and will see the charity’s logo and symptoms infographic on packaging across its entire toilet roll range from September. That will enable customers to scan a QR code to find out more on Bowel Cancer UK’s website, reports the MEN.
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Customers and employees alike will spot brand new signs about bowel cancer symptoms in-stores and in the toilets in stores from as early as next month. The move is being done to help save lives by helping with early detection and diagnosis.
The idea came from from M&S Clothing and Home colleague Cara Hoofe, who submitted it to M&S’ colleague suggestion scheme. Cara was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2016 at just 32-years-old and was inspired to put the idea forward by the heroic fundraising and campaigning efforts of journalist Deborah James.
Cara said: “Deborah is a huge inspiration to me and so many other young people diagnosed with bowel cancer. I feel fortunate my journey since diagnosis has taken a different path but I want to give a voice to all those who can no longer use theirs to raise awareness.
“Early detection is so important and my main message to people is don’t feel embarrassed, get things checked out and speak to your doctor. I’ve worked at M&S for over ten years and am so happy they are putting my idea into action and so quickly – I’m hoping other companies will consider joining us.”
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Britain and it is the second biggest cancer killer. Around 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year across the country however the disease is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.
Sadly 60 percent of people who are diagnosed are at later stages leaving it much more difficult to treat. M&S are not just supporting the charity to inform people and raise awareness it is also making an incredible £50,000 donation to Bowel Cancer UK to help them in its mission to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer.
M&S alongside Bowel Cancer UK are now calling on other retailers to join them in introducing updated toilet packing. In a bid to help raise awareness of symptoms among as many people as possible.
Stuart Machin who is the CEO at M&S has said: ”It’s hugely rewarding to be able to put such a fantastic suggestion into action in my first week on the job. Cara’s idea will undoubtedly help to save lives and by working with Bowel Cancer UK we can get the message out there to check for symptoms and if you have any concerns, to go and see your doctor.”
Earlier in 2022 M&S extended its partnership with Check4Cancer to include screening support for colleagues who are at a higher risk of getting bowel cancer.
Genevieve Edwards is the Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK and has said: “We are delighted to partner with M&S to raise vital awareness of bowel cancer symptoms with people all over the country. It’s the UK’s fourth most common cancer, with someone diagnosed with the disease every 15 minutes in the UK.
“This brilliant initiative will help millions of people across the UK know what to look out for and will undoubtedly save lives. We're incredibly grateful to Cara and the team for their commitment to making this happen.”
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