Commuters passing through Greengates junction this month may be in for a shock, as construction workers undertaking improvement works around the junction have swapped their usual yellow hi-vis vests for bright pink!
Contractors Howard Civil Engineering – who are undertaking junction improvement works on behalf of Bradford Council – are hoping to generate awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raise money for Bosom Friends, a local support group for people facing or recovering from breast cancer in the Bradford area.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting people with breasts in the UK and it is estimated that 1 in 8 will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
Howard Civil Engineering’s pre-construction coordinator Sophie Henderson is the community liaison officer for this project and was responsible for organising the campaign.
‘It is our responsibility as a local contractor to support the communities we work in,’ she explains. ‘If the past 18 months have taught us anything it’s that our communities are more important than ever, and Howard Civil Engineering are thrilled to be able to encourage this sense of togetherness by showing our support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
‘The improvement works we are undertaking at Greengates junction are very high profile,’ continues Sophie. ‘We have hundreds of cars passing the site every day and the jackets are very visible, so hopefully we can not only drum up a lot of support for people facing breast cancer in Bradford but also encourage people to get their breasts checked!’
In addition to looking pretty in pink, Howard Civil Engineering have also pledged a £250 sum to Bosom Friends and are hoping to fundraise a further £250 from suppliers, subcontractors, and customers.
Bosom Friends is a patient-led support group providing friendship, help and support to those with breast cancer and to their families in Bradford and the surrounding area.
Julia Sunderland, a spokesperson for Bosom Friends, said: ‘We would like to offer a huge thank you to Howard Civil Engineering for donning pink jackets and raising funds for us. With the money raised we can continue to run our support group which provides friendship, tea and coffee, biscuits and cake, laughter, outings, and information evenings from our fabulous team of surgeons and specialist nurses.’
The group meet on the third Wednesday of the month at 7pm, inside Cancer Support on Smith Lane by Bradford Royal Infirmary.
