In 2015 the first ‘handbag’ awareness cards were printed. The cards with their matching display boxes were packed and distributed from Gill’s home in Weymouth.
The “Keep it in your Bag” Campaign was launched to coincide with ovarian cancer awareness month in March 2016.
Gill’s work was recognised nationally when she appeared on the Lorraine Show as one of three finalists for the Inspirational Woman of the Year Award 2016.
On 15th December 2016 the Gill Harler Fund became a registered charity.
In October 2017, eight months after Gill’s death, Karen was invited back to appear on the Lorraine Show, to remember her mother’s remarkable journey and to discuss the ongoing work of the charity. Following her television appearance the charity received requests for a further 8000 cards.
In the same month Lorraine Kelly CBE agreed to be Patron of the Gill Harler Fund.
Another television appearance with Lorraine in March 2019 promoting ovarian cancer awareness month led to hundreds of requests for cards, 35,000 in total, of which 280 were sent to a conference on International Women’s Day in Cornwall.
On 27th September 2019 the Trustees held a fundraising event in Dorset, ‘An Evening with TV Presenter Lorraine Kelly’, to introduce Lorraine as Patron and to promote the aims and work of the charity.
To date 460,000 cards have been produced and distributed free. The cards have been sent all over the United Kingdom and even as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.
