Charity Highland Dancing Festival

The Breast Cancer Campaign was established in 1988 with the aim of researching the cure for breast cancer. The charity aims to be the leading specialist in breast cancer research across the UK and Ireland, making a significant impact on breast cancer for the benefit of patients. Breast Cancer Campaign only funds research into breast cancer and will support research at any centre of excellence in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

At the end of 2009 our family were devastated when my mum was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Over the next year our family held strong whilst our mum underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It was such a worrying time for us all and we are so proud of how brave our mum was through it all. The surgery proved successful and our mum has been in remission since late 2010.

This charity is understandably close to my heart and in a sport mainly dominated by girls and young women; I thought it would do no harm to raise awareness of this disease.

I have danced since I was 8 years old - from the age of 12 under Wilma Tolmie. My parents have always been amazing supporters of my dancing and have been with me through it all. People used to think that we were mad travelling to Dundee from Aberdeen multiple times in a week - but the time that I got to spend with my mum on the journeys is irreplaceable. Dancing has given my mum and me a great bond, fantastic memories and great times which are still ongoing and hopefully always will be. I am so lucky to have a mum like her and would do anything in the world for her.

My family is the most important thing to me and I am so grateful that this competition exists to create awareness and raise money for such fantastic charities that can really help the people we love.

Gemma Baillie, 2013 Organiser

Gemma is a real ambassador for dance as well as being a true friend. We are so fortunate to know Gemma and are very grateful for all she has done. She has raised the profile and funds for charities through her love of dance over the years, including thousands of pounds for Action Duchenne and MS Society Scotland. This has been within her own dance school, with friends and colleagues (in charity fun runs) as well as through the Assemble and Leap concert she organised along with fellow dancer Rachel McLagan. Thank you Gemma x

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. Damage to the DNA of these cells results in uncontrolled cell division and growth, and, eventually, sufficient cells accumulate to form a lump. The cells invade normal surrounding breast tissue and can break off from the primary lump to spread in lymph channels or the blood stream to other organs where secondary lumps (metastases) may form
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK
One in every nine women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in her life
more than 45,000 cases are diagnosed each year.
It is the leading cause of death for women aged 34 to 54
women with a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer have almost double the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer themselves
Women using HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) have a 66% increased risk of breast cancer
Breast cancer also affects men although it is rare
Just over 12,000 people die each year in the UK from breast cancer
The precise reasons why a woman develops breast cancer are still unknown, but are thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
Hormones seem to have an important role in breast cancer. Research has shown a link between oestrogen levels (the female sex hormone) and the risk of developing breast cancer
There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that breastfeeding can protect against women developing breast cancer.
Despite recent improvements due to better treatments and earlier detection, the UK still has one of the highest mortality rates for breast cancer in the world.
Research is beginning to reap dividends in new ways of understanding how breast cancer cells work.