Pink charity feed bucket strikes a chord with farmers

Breast cancer research is a cause close to many people’s hearts, with more than 55,000 people diagnosed every year, including 370 men.

But it’s one of the most treatable forms of cancer, if detected early, which is why feed and supplement manufacturer Rumenco has launched a new campaign to support the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

For a limited run, Rumenco has turned its red Lifeline Lamb & Ewe bucket pink.

Launching the campaign in October, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the company announced it would also be making a 15p donation to the Pink Ribbon Foundation for every bucket sold, with an expected overall donation of £20,000.

The charity is a grant making trust that funds projects and provides financial support to UK charities that advance understanding of breast cancer, or support those affected by the disease.

With breast cancer impacting so many people, including Rumenco’s own staff, part of the company’s charitable activity includes sharing their own stories.

Jo Calcott, breast cancer survivor and Rumenco commercial coordinator says: “I owe so much to the regular screening the NHS conducts.

I had no concerns, had felt no lumps or thought that I could be at risk, but a routine mammogram detected something I’d never heard of; calcium crystals.

“Cancer cells can attach to these deposits, and are often the earliest detectable signs that treatment is required. Thanks to that early detection, I fought my battle and I won.”

Rumenco product manager Amy Wright is also the grateful daughter of a survivor.

She adds: “My mum is a proud breast cancer survivor, and I’m delighted that Rumenco is supporting such an important cause. Breast cancer affects so many people, and raising awareness is so important to early detection.

“A diagnosis is always a scary time, but the earlier cancer is detected, the better the prognosis for the longer term. We are very grateful for the treatment that saved her life and helped her to win her battle.”

“This has affected us personally”

The campaign has also struck a chord with many farmers who are helping to fundraise and promote the cause on social media.

It’s a cause that’s particularly close to Yorkshire farmer Tom Carlisle’s heart, as his wife Aimee was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago at the age of 26, when she was seven months pregnant.

Happily, she is now in full remission but the experience prompted the couple to raise money for the Pink Ribbon Foundation – raising around £50,000 so far, predominantly through a naked calendar and charity ball.

Commenting on Rumenco’s campaign, Tom, who is a fifth-generation beef and sheep farmer in the Yorkshire Dales, said:

“Obviously, this has struck a chord and because I’ve got quite a social media following, I was very keen to promote awareness and fundraise.

“I’m very happy to be involved, because obviously this is something that has affected us so personally.

“It’s surprising how many people have been either affected by it or have somebody close to them who’s been affected by breast cancer.”

A lifeline

Lifeline Lamb & Ewe is a unique specialist pre-lambing feed and mineral bucket designed to benefit both ewe and unborn lamb.

It’s the only product proven by SRUC to increase colostrum quality, including a 25% increase in IgG levels, Rumenco says.

It includes quality protein, high energy for ewes at risk of twin lamb disease, and a blend of nutritional boosters, as well as performance minerals, vitamins and trace elements to support ewe immunity, lamb vigour and easier lambing.

It’s best fed six weeks pre-lambing.

Frank Carr, of Lee Gate Farm, also in the Yorkshire Dales, is using Lifeline for the first time. He explains:

“The previous few years our lambing % among our horned ewes hasn’t been great, for varying reasons when we’ve looked into it more, so we are trying to give the sheep the best possible start by using Lifeline.

“We have heard positive reviews from other farmers so thought we can give it a try whilst also helping to support a great cause.”

Meanwhile, Tom Carlisle started using the Lifeline product in the run up to lambing around five years ago, and says it’s a “brilliant product”.

It’s particularly important to his business as the majority of ewes lamb outside.

“I’ve had a real focus on our farm on trying to better our livestock each year,” he explained.

“Through a combination of better nutrition, breeding and animal husbandry skills, I do believe that the lambs produced now are bigger, stronger and more vigorous when they hit the ground.

“It’s important for us that we have good, strong lambs because we do lamb the majority of our sheep outside and obviously, with the sort of winters we’re having and especially last year, we need to have big, healthy lambs.

Having these buckets is really quite essential for us.”

Lifeline Lamb & Ewe will be available in the eye-catching pink buckets from October all the way through to lambing in the spring.

To support the campaign you can buy the pink bucket from Rumenco or donate directly to the Pink Ribbon Foundation.

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