About Pink S
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Throughout June and July 2025, 12 women with a lived experience of breast cancer, all in very different stages of their breast cancer journeys, joined us for a 6 week workshop series where they created and hand stitched their very own self portraits as a reflection of themselves and their breast cancer experience.
The success of our in-person workshops encouraged us to open up a new opportunity to women across the UK who couldn't attend the workshops in person but still wanted to be a part of this project, during which, over 70 hand stitched pieces were created by our fantastic virtual participants.
These opportunities were created for the participants to come together, learn a new skill, process their breast cancer journey in a new and creative way, but also help us create an exhibition with a big mission - increase the awareness of regular breast checking, and in turn, early breast cancer diagnosis.
Timeline
June 2025
The start of our Pink Stitch in person workshops
July 2025
Pink Stitch workshops come to an end and portraits are finalised
August 2025
Virtual Pink Stitch is launched
September 2025
Virtual Pink Stitch takes place
Pink Stitch Exhibition at the Crafts Council, London
October 2025
Participant Reflections
Have a listen to what our workshop participants had to say about their experience with Pink Stitch 2025…
Timeline
October 2023
We hosted our first three photography workshops at Church Street Market.
May 2024
Two additional photography sessions took place in Maida Vale.
August 2024
Our journey began with six poetry workshops about Edgware Road.
March 2024
We showcased the Church Street project through a community and digital exhibition.
June 2024
We held our first public exhibition at Grand Junction.
2025
Our
artist
None of this would have been possible without the support of our fantastic textile artist, Emily Jo Gibbs.
Emily Jo Gibbs is a British Artist whose practice is rooted in Making. She specialises in hand-stitched appliqué, her distinctive style is created by layering and meticulously stab-stitching silk organza pieces onto linen. Championing the Value of Making, Emily has undertaken many projects that feature people who make things. She is Interested in the idea that by taking the time to slowly describe someone in stitch, you convey your admiration. Her investment of time in making the work becomes a quiet, thoughtful act of care and value.
‘This project, the first I have done specifically focused on wellbeing has been extremely rewarding. I know from my own experience and from many years teaching my technique, how mindful the making process is. Concentrating on looking and stitching is deeply absorbing and leaves little room for non-stitch related worries. The process isn’t as easy as it appears which I think adds to the participants feeling of accomplishment and pride in their results’.
Thank you to
our partners
We extend our gratitude to our funders who have made this project possible.
Another Way Womens Foundation
Arts Council England
The N Smith Charitable Trust
We would love your support in ensuring that Pink Stitch can continue into 2026 and beyond. Please consider a donation of any size via the link below.
Our
Impact
We are incredibly proud to say that we had over 200 visitors to our Pink Stitch Exhibition.
Our mission, during this exhibition, was to highlight the importance of creative health activities within the breast cancer space, as well as inspiring and encouraging others to regularly check their breasts.
Harrowing stats suggest that there are over 56,000 new cases of breast cancer in the UK each year with “almost all” breast cancer diagnosis’ within stage 1 being survivable & only 4 in 10 diagnosis’ at stage 4 being survivable. The key here is early diagnosis, something that our project really aimed to highlight.
Almost 80% of our visitors had been impacted by Breast Cancer with 55% regularly checking their breasts and 45% not checking enough.
Over 90% of our visitors came away with a mission the check more and/or continue their regular checking.
A life changing decision for many.
“I loved seeing all the work together and feeling part of it - part of a bigger project bringing women and their individual breast cancer experiences together to highlight the need to check and keep checking ourselves.” - Participant
Thoughts from
Pink Stitch
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“It was very moving, powerful and full of positivity despite the toughness of going through a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment and living through and beyond breast cancer. The power of participants creating together came across and there was a beautiful cohesion to the work through the materials used and the style of stitch. ”
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“Thank you for giving us these opportunities…they are a bright spot in what can be a long, hard slog.”
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“I was amazed by their creativity and the quality of their work, but most of all their stories. The resilience, the fight, the vulnerability and the honesty literally took my breath and made me think of people l that I have lost to breast cancer. I felt so honoured and privileged to share a little bit of their story and to hear their words.”
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“Fantastic initiative to raise awareness, empowering women & supporting them through their cancer journey”
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“I enjoyed seeing the work of ordinary people going through an extraordinary journey. ”
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“Thank you for giving my partner the chance to express herself and feel part of a community. ”
CAYR CHARITY FUNDERS
