Stuart McMillan MSP joined Laura MacKenzie, a local ambassador for Fight Bladder Cancer, at the Shipbuilder’s Statue in Port Glasgow to mark Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.
Laura who is from Wemyss Bay and known as ‘2 Bags for Life’ on social media, contacted Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce to organise for the landmark to be lit up orange for the month of May to help raise awareness of bladder cancer.
Commenting, Stuart said:
“Laura first got in touch with me just over a year ago to highlight the work of Fight Bladder Cancer as she lives locally and is an ambassador for the charity.
“I hadn’t actually heard of the charity before meeting Laura, so since then we’ve stayed in contact and I’ve been regularly engaging with Fight Bladder Cancer – hosting their first parliamentary event in the Scottish Parliament in February.
“Following on from this, I committed to helping to raise awareness of the condition during Bladder Cancer Awareness Month as it can affect anyone at any age.
“I was therefore delighted to meet Laura once again to see the statue lit up orange and I look forward to continuing working with her and Fight Bladder Cancer.
Highlighting the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer to look out for, Stuart added:
“The main symptom to look out for is blood in your urine, but tiredness, abdominal pain, weight loss, incontinence and lower back pain are also common signs.
“I’d encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms and if you are worried, please contact your GP as soon as possible. Fight Bladder Cancer’s website also has lots of helpful information and can provide support to those diagnosed with bladder cancer and their families.”
Laura said:
“It is a great opportunity to bring together all the awareness activities carried out by so many throughout the year into the focus.
“Having had so much support from my local MSP, Stuart McMillian, over the last year, it seemed fitting to arrange to have an Inverclyde statue lit up orange to mark the important month.”
Click here to find out more about the signs and symptoms of bladder cancer.
