LAB FACTOR partners with Make 2nds Count in memory of beloved family member

We are thrilled to announce an inspiring partnership between Make 2nds Count and LAB FACTOR, a UK-based professional beauty supplier.

This collaboration is driven by a personal and heartfelt connection to honour Toni, sister to Lab Factor’s founder Angelina Salacinski, who tragically passed away aged just 47 after receiving her secondary breast cancer (SBC) diagnosis. 

Angelina has been a passionate supporter of raising awareness about the impact of SBC. She sees this partnership as a meaningful way to honour her sister’s legacy while raising funds and highlighting this important cause. Angelina says: “We are incredibly thrilled to support Make 2nds Count as their corporate partner. In honour of my sister Toni, whom we sadly lost to secondary breast cancer, we deeply understand the importance of the work M2C does. Our goal is to raise as much money as possible to support their amazing efforts."

Angelina’s sister, Toni, experienced the initial symptoms of the disease as stomach problems and was visited several times after first consulting her doctor, just across the road from the salon where they both worked together – Toni was a well-loved, bright and sociable person.

Her first results were shared with a diagnosis of gallstones as the cause of her issues, but the sisters’ holiday together in April 2013 –  the last chance Angelina had to spend time away with her - was marred by Toni’s stomach pain and her struggle to eat.

A scan in June confirmed their worst fears: Toni’s real diagnosis was secondary breast cancer, which had already spread from her left breast to her lungs and liver. Toni passed away in June 2013,  a few months after her initial misdiagnosis, aged just 47, leaving behind her beloved family and all the sadness and frustration the lack of awareness for the symptoms she displayed all along had caused. 

Toni’s story is a powerful reminder of why our work giving hope to those affected by secondary breast cancer is so important, and we’re looking forward to working together to leverage awareness. We are also pleased that LAB FACTOR will be our official sponsor for our “1,000 Truths’ campaign, launching on 1 October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Sam Dixon, CEO of Make 2nds Count, expressed the charity's enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, "We are thrilled to team up with LAB FACTOR this year. Angelina’s personal connection to the cause and her dedication to supporting secondary breast cancer awareness and research align perfectly with our mission.”

Donate to the partnership here.