Farlington School students join silent vigil in London to support Lobular Moon Shot Project
Farlington students Maisie, Iszy and Amelie proudly stood amongst a group of 22 others taking part in a 22-minute silent vigil on Whitehall in London, in support of the Lobular Moon Shot Project last Wednesday (April 22).
Maisie, Iszy and Amelie stood alongside 22 students and 22 ladies with lobular breast cancer on Whitehall for a 22-minute silence, symbolising the 22 people diagnosed with lobular breast cancer every day in the UK.
The moving demonstration aimed to highlight the urgent need for better detection and treatment of the disease, which is the second most common form of breast cancer but is often missed by standard screening methods such as mammograms and ultrasounds.
The vigil formed part of growing support for the Lobular Moon Shot Project, a campaign launched in Horsham in 2023 by Dr Susan Michaelis and her husband Tristan Loraine that is pushing for vital research into the basic biology of the disease. A disease that impact 1000 ladies a day globally. Currently, there is no specific treatment for lobular breast cancer, underscoring the importance of the initiative.
The campaign has gained remarkable political momentum, becoming the most widely supported bipartisan health campaign in British history. A total of 465 Members of Parliament have backed calls for the government to commit £20 million towards a five-year research programme aimed at developing effective treatments.
The project has also reached wider audiences through film. Eve Groves, a short film produced by Fact Not Fiction Films and featuring former Farlington student Millie, tells the story behind the campaign and its mission to drive change and the documentary Our Journey With Lobular Breast Cancer.
Farlington Deputy Head Mrs Gilbert praised the students’ involvement, saying: “We are so proud of Maisie, Iszy and Amelie for putting themselves forward to stand amongst the other brave participants at this very moving and emotional event, in support of such an important cause.”
The school also expressed its gratitude to Tristan Loraine, Project Manager of the Lobular Moon Shot Project, for inviting Farlington students to take part in the vigil.
The event in London marks another step forward for the Lobular Moon Shot Project as it continues to build public awareness and press for vital research funding that campaigners hope will transform outcomes for thousands of patients.