Zandra Rhodes appointed London Breast Cancer Ambassador Fashion designer Zandra Rhodes has taken up a new role as London Breast Cancer Ambassador, appointed by the city's Mayor, Boris Johnson. Designer Zandra Rhodes has been named London Breast Cancer Ambassador after losing her mother to the disease, which affects 4,600 women in the capital each year. In her new role she will encourage women living in London to regularly check their breasts for any changes, as well as help to promote the city as a leading treatment and research centre for the illness. "As you get a bit older you realise these things could hit you and you have to be a bit more socially aware," Rhodes told the Evening Standard. I realised you should put something back into life and not just be fashionable. I'd like to give more visibility to the cause. READ: Zandra Rhodes: role models from world of fashion fail our children She also hopes to get women talking about it more, saying that women in the US are generally more open about their experience of suffering from the disease, which can make coping easier. "In the UK we didn't talk about it at all though we're a bit better now," she said. But I think if you're aware, you're less scared. It makes it easier if you meet somebody else who has had that experience. Rhodes was approached by Boris Johnson to take up the position. I'm delighted that Zandra Rhodes has agreed to become London Breast Cancer Ambassador. It is a disease that affects thousands of women across the capital, as well as having a devastating impact on their loved ones," he said. We want to help remove the fear factor. The 73-year-old visited a cancer research laboratory at Guy's Hospital in the heart of London this morning the highlight her new role.