A mum-of-two from Lancashire is at the heart of a national campaign to highlight incurable secondary breast cancer.

Kate Rackham, 44, from Morecambe, who is living with the little-known form of the disease, is the local face of the ‘Fighting To Be Heard' initiative run by charity Make 2nds Count to raise awareness of the forgotten cancer.

Ms Rackham – a primary teacher working in Salford - appeared on billboards in an advertising blitz in Morecambe and Salford, thanks to a generous media donation by leading out of home company Clear Channel UK.

The campaign is promoting a powerful image of Ms Rackham alongside 19 other female secondary breast cancer patients from across the country, whose shared experience is the perception that they are treated as second best since their form of the disease is largely unknown – despite the fact it kills 1,000 women in the UK each month.

Ms Rackham said: “I chose to join #fightingtobeheard campaign to raise awareness to help others, to meet people in a similar position, and also to raise funds for vital research into this disease, in order to prolong our lives and so that we have the chance to see our children grow up.

“I feel that we’re finally starting to be heard. I have met more women who have contacted me, newly diagnosed, and I’m able to help them.

"The women already involved are so special and we have truly bonded. They are my cancer family.”

Secondary breast cancer – also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer – is a cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body and is incurable.

On average there are around 35,000 patients in the UK currently living with this form of the disease.

A YouGov poll, commissioned by Make 2nds Count revealed 38 per cent of the British population are unaware of secondary breast cancer and although 21 per cent are aware, they don’t know the disease’s common signs/symptoms.

Fellow secondary breast cancer patient and Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming was determined to raise awareness and build a campaign with women UK-wide, all of whom shared the same desire to stand up and ‘Fight To Be Heard’.

Now, thanks to the fantastic contribution of Clear Channel, the campaign went live in both Morecambe and Salford, in Lancaster Road and Manchester Road in Walkden respectively, and it is also to be seen throughout at locations across the UK.

The emotive image was originally created, by world-renowned photography studio Sane Seven, for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and seen then in Manchester and Birmingham.

The mission to go national came when one of the models, Kimberley Noble from Chester, approached Clear Channel for their help.

Since then, two of those who took part in the shoot have died and a number of others are unwell.

Clear Channel UK Chief Marketing Officer, Martin Corke, said: “We were blown away by the hard work and dedication of Make 2nds Count and instantly knew their important message needed to broadcast across the county.

"We know the ads in Morecambe and Salford will raise awareness in the local community and guide people towards support from this amazing charity.”

Make 2nds Count was founded to support patients and families, educate and raise funds for research into the disease.

Broadcaster and Loose Women star Carol McGiffin was recently appointed as its first ambassador and the Fighting To Be Heard campaign has already attracted celebrity support from more than 70 influencers and high-profile personalities.

Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming, 38, of Edinburgh, who had no previous breast cancer diagnosis, warning signs or lump when she was told she had primary and secondary breast cancer, is delighted by the response and says Clear Channel’s hugely generous gift will be invaluable in educating people all over the country.

She said: “We desperately need people to be aware of this forgotten form of breast cancer. We need to change the narrative, raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this disease.

“Primary breast cancer is well documented. Secondary breast cancer is incurable.

"It’s like a relative that no one really wants to speak about, but without education this disease will continue to destroy the lives of so many.”