On Monday 18 November, HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh attended an event hosted by PwC and organised by Wellbeing of Women, the UK charity saving and changing the lives of women, girls and babies. As the charity’s Patron, Her Royal Highness thanked the many volunteers for their incredible work to support the charity over the years.

Wellbeing of Women has also launched a new report showing the impact of its research on breakthroughs in women’s health over the last 60 years. This includes helping millions of babies survive and thrive worldwide; Being at the forefront of gynaecological cancer prevention and treatment; Transforming understanding and treatment options for heavy and painful periods.

Since 1964, Wellbeing of Women has invested more than £75 million into research projects, leading to medical innovations that many women use today, from ultrasounds to genetic testing and treatments like ibuprofen for heavy and painful periods.

The work Wellbeing of Women funded has informed policy and NICE guidelines, such as showing the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women and paved the way for cervical cancer to be eradicated around the world by 2040 if vaccination rates continue.

Wellbeing of Women Chair, Professor Dame Lesley Regan said: “Wellbeing of Women has pioneered life changing advances in women’s health over 60 years by funding research into new treatments that save and change lives, influencing policies and best practices across the globe and training future generations of women’s health researchers. Our volunteers have played a crucial fundraising role ranging from taking part in challenge events such as spending 59 days solo at sea, to raising over 1 million pounds at our annual Christmas fairs. I would like to thank both HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh and PwC for helping us show gratitude to our volunteers.”

However, women’s health remains critically underfunded, and we must continue to campaign and raise money to fund education, advocacy and research to ensure that women receive the investigations, treatment and care they need quickly and effectively.”

One woman helped by Wellbeing of Women’s research is Megan. Her baby Flora needed surfactant – a lung lubricant that Wellbeing of Women researchers developed – to breathe and ultimately survive after she was born. Surfactant has helped to save many lives.

Megan said: “Flora was born eight weeks premature and was rushed to another hospital in an ambulance for treatment and an operation. It was all fast-paced and confusing, and when I saw her after I thought “this can’t be my baby, she’s all swollen and blue.”

“She was too fragile to be picked up or cuddled, so I couldn’t even comfort her in the way I wanted to. Flora was put on a breathing machine and received surfactant for 6
days. Once she could breathe on her own, it felt like she was finally alive. I stopped thinking she was going to die and looked forward to bringing her home. Surfactant truly saved her life. She really is a miracle.”