The Lavender Trust at Breast Cancer Care raises money specifically to fund information and support for younger women with breast cancer.

It is the only fund in the UK dedicated to addressing the particular needs of this age group.

It was founded in 1998 by Justine Picardie and Beth Wagstaff, in memory of Justine’s sister Ruth, who died of breast cancer at the age of 33. Beth had also been diagnosed with the disease in her early 30s, and like Ruth, and many other young women with breast cancer, she felt there was a failure in the provision of services for her age group. The Lavender Trust was therefore set up in order to raise money to help women in similar circumstances.

Each year, 8000 women under the age of 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the Lavender Trust is still the only fund in the UK dedicated to addressing their particular needs and concerns.

Each March the Lavender Trust runs Lavender Week to raise awareness of issues facing younger women with breast cancer and to raise extra money to fund Breast Cancer Care's services for younger women.