Pfizer to fund McGrath Foundation Youth Education Strategy

Friday, 18 December 2009 09:46

Pfizer has generously granted $300,000 to the McGrath Foundation to help fund the development and execution of a coordinated national Youth Education Strategy, an initiative that was close to Jane’s heart.

Jane was only 31 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was passionate about empowering women under 40 to take control of their health by conducting regular breast checks. She often said, “Breast cancer doesn’t care how old you are, where you live, whether you’re a career woman or a mother.”

While much public attention is aimed at breast health for the over 50s, the fact is that one quarter of affected women are younger. With that sobering fact in mind, Pfizer has joined forces with the McGrath Foundation to develop and deliver a breast awareness education strategy for younger Australian women.

This education strategy will be led by a soon-to-be-appointed Youth Strategy Director, who will work in coordination with a Project Management Team, including senior leaders from both Pfizer and the Foundation.

Oncology Business Unit Head, Masum Hossain, said. “Young people often believe they are immune to disease and sickness, but the statistics clearly tell us this is not the case. We believe this friendship with the Foundation will help countless numbers of younger women to be more active about their own breast health and provide them with strategies outlining what to do if they think there is something wrong.”

Masum said the depth and breadth of Pfizer – including consumer and clinical research, external networks and Oncology Medical Liaison Specialists – would provide additional information sources for the McGrath Foundation to tap into to help the Youth Strategy be as robust and as far-reaching as possible.

Stay tuned for more information on the McGrath Foundation’s relationship with Pfizer and the youth education strategy in the new year.