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Ruth Jones is the Labour Member of Parliament for the Newport West and Islwyn constituency.

During October, we raise awareness for breast cancer – a disease that still affects around 2,700 women in Wales each year, which is equivalent to 52 women every week.

I visited Asda’s Blackwood store to help raise money for its Tickled Pink Campaign, which has already raised £100 million for breast cancer charities since it first launched in 1996.

It was a real pleasure to catch up with community champion Lorna Sherrard and the rest of the hard-working staff to learn about all the wonderful work they do each year in support of such a worthy cause.

I was also able to show support for Breast Cancer Now in Westminster by wearing pink. Now in its 24th year, Wear it Pink has raised more than £43 million for lifesaving research and life-changing support for anyone affected by breast cancer across the UK.

Speaking of worthy causes, I was privileged enough to be invited to the launch of the Gwent Poppy Appeal in Blackwood towards the end of October.

Starting the proceedings in St Margaret’s on Blackwood High Street, the service was a mix of songs and prayer, as the importance of the poppy and Remembrance was reiterated in front of pupils from local schools, including Blackwood and Libanus Primary.

After the service, there was a march along the high street towards Blackwood Miners’ Institute, before the crowd of around 100 people made their way down to Dragon Square. There, Lord Lieutenant Brigadier Robert Aitken reflected on wars past and how the Royal British Legion (RBL) is needed now more than ever to help those who have returned from war.

I’d like to give my thanks to Blackwood’s RBL branch for once again organising the appeal, which ended in the brilliant Institute.

Finally, I had the chance to speak to some of the most important but often under-represented voices in society this past month – young people.

I was asked along to Coleg Gwent’s Crosskeys Campus by the pupils of the Politics and Law Society, where I answered their concerns regarding politics at the moment for young people, and how they can have a career in a sometimes-daunting industry.

I was impressed by their knowledge of politics across Wales and the rest of the UK, and it proved to me that the future of politics is in safe hands here in Newport West and Islwyn.

As always, my team and I are prepared to deal with any problems constituents of Newport West and Islwyn may have, so please do get in touch by emailing ruth.jones.mp@parliament.uk or calling on 01633256268.