Pancreatic Cancer Action has launched a 'Turn it Purple' Pharmacy of the Year Award to encourage pharmacies across the UK to raise much needed awareness of the UK's fifth biggest cancer killer.

Every November, pharmacies take part in the ‘Turn it Purple’ campaign for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. To recognise the effort pharmacies put in to raise awareness, the charity will present one team with the Pharmacy of the Year Award.

The Award will be given to the pharmacy team that demonstrates the best commitment to both raising awareness of pancreatic cancer amongst their local community and furthering their own education on pancreatic cancer by taking the e-learning module.

Last year, Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol, took part in the campaign and its lead pharmacist, Ade Williams, was so impressed with the campaign and the charitiy's commitment to pharmacy, that he has since become one the charity's ambassadors. 

Williams says: “Pancreatic Cancer Action brings a lot of excellence when it comes to patient advocacy, their resources and e-learning. They are really ahead of the curve.

 “Pharmacists are likely to be the first or only person that can spot the signs and symptoms for your patients. A lot of our customers don’t see many people or talk to anyone else, so we can actually save someone’s life.”

 “For a charity they have created something (Turn it Purple Pharmacy of the Year Award) very relevant but also fun to engage with.”

Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers; less than 7% of patients survive five years and this figure has not changed in almost 50 years. New research predicts that by 2025 deaths from the disease will be 25% higher than breast cancer.

To find out more about the Award and order your free Turn it Purple pack, click here.