Fundraiser Anaïs Muczynski, 34, from London is using her love of aerial hoop to raise awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink this October, just one week before she undergoes preventative surgery for her own breast cancer diagnosis.
Anaïs, who was diagnosed with triple negative breast in January 2023, found out she carried a rare genetic mutation called RAD51c, which increases the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer.
After being treated with chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, Anaïs will undergo a preventative double mastectomy next week. Ahead of her surgery, Anaïs was determined to raise awareness of breast cancer by posing in a topless shoot at the My Gravity Fitness & Dance centre in Hendon, north London.
Anaïs hopes by sharing these photos, she can encourage others to self-check – as well as raising funds for Breast Cancer Now’s world-class research and life-changing support as part of wear it pink on Friday 20 October.
Anaïs said: “Raising money for breast cancer research is very important to me. My genetic mutation is not common, so although we think it works like the BRCA gene, we don’t really know. There’s not as much research into it.
“I also understand how much it costs to run a research laboratory. My husband is a cancer researcher, mainly for blood and circulatory cancers, but I’ve seen first-hand how difficult it is to get grants.
“In some ways, his knowledge of cancer has made my diagnosis easier for me, because I know I can ask him questions whenever I need to. But it has made it harder for him because he understands how my cancer grows. He knows the risks.
“So if I can use my diagnosis to help further research into breast cancer, and raise awareness so other women start self-checking, then at least something positive has come of it all.
She continues: “I’ve always been sporty, but aerial hoop really opened me up to the artistic side of sport. The aerial hoop community is so open, kind and inclusive. I consider the team here at My Gravity Fitness & Dance my family. I’m so grateful for their support as I embark on one of the most difficult challenges of my life.
“At 33 years old, I never expected to hear the words ‘you have breast cancer’. I was doing 6 to 8 hours of aerial hoop per week. I was young and healthy. It just shows this disease doesn’t discriminate, and we all need to be vigilant and self-check regularly.”
Anais is now calling on others to follow her lead and support Breast Cancer Now’s wear it pink fundraising day on Friday 20 October 2023.
As one of the charity’s biggest and brightest fundraising events, wear it pink is a day when thousands wear pink as part of dress-up days, bake sales, netball tournaments, wild swims, knitting sessions and even bra displays.
On Saturday 14 October, Anaïs held an open day at My Gravity Fitness and Dance where attendees could try out aerial hoop, silks and pole dancing. Anais also hosted a raffle, cake sale and lucky dip – raising £1200 for Breast Cancer Now.
She hopes to raise even more through her Justigiving page.
Kinie Kaur, wear it pink manager at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“We want to say a huge thank you to Anais for holding a wear it pink event in support of Breast Cancer Now.
“Every 10 minutes, someone in the UK hears the words ‘you have breast cancer’. But by wearing pink and raising money on 20 October, you could help to drive forward research and give life-changing support to those affected by this relentless disease.
“We’re working towards a future where everyone with breast cancer lives – and is supported to live well, but we can’t do it without your help. You can find out more at wearitpink.org.”
