Women living with lobular breast cancer, alongside schoolgirls from across the UK, will gather in Westminster on 22 April for a series of silent vigils highlighting what campaigners describe as a critical gap in research funding for the disease.

At 10.30am, simultaneous vigils will take place outside Downing Street, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Twenty-two women diagnosed with lobular breast cancer will stand in silence, representing the 22 women diagnosed every day in the UK, joined by 22 schoolgirls symbolising the next generation at risk without progress.

The action supports the Lobular Moon Shot Project, which is calling for £20 million in Government funding over five years to accelerate research into lobular breast cancer – a form of the disease affecting around one in seven breast cancer patients. Despite its prevalence, campaigners say it remains under-researched, with no treatments specifically designed to target its biology.

Led by Tristan Loraine following the death of his wife Susan in 2025, the project is working alongside leading researchers, including The Manchester Breast Centre, to drive global understanding and improve outcomes for patients. Campaigners argue that current approaches rely on treatments designed for other forms of breast cancer, which are often less effective for lobular cases. They also highlight that the proposed investment would amount to just £238 per patient over the next decade – a fraction of the cost of existing treatments, which can run into thousands of pounds a month and are not designed specifically for this disease.

The vigil comes amid frustration that, despite widespread political support, no dedicated Government funding has yet been committed. Campaigners warn that without urgent investment, thousands of lives could be at risk.

https://www.lobularmoonshot.org/

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