Tamsyn Johnston-Hughes loves sending cards – whatever the occasion – so being communications manager of a globally-recognised greetings card company, you could say she has an appropriate profession.

Tamsyn’s favourite card occasion is Mother’s Day, which she is busily promoting to encourage people to buy into Hallmark’s Cards for a Cure campaign.

Since its launch three years ago, the campaign has raised millions for the Breast Cancer Campaign and Action Breast Cancer in Ireland, which are dedicated to funding research into one of the most common forms of cancer.

For Tamsyn, promoting the company’s Mother’s Day range featuring Breast Cancer’s trademark pink ribbon, has proved poignant as her aunt is recovering from the disease.

She says one of the highlights about promoting the campaign is visiting the research laboratories to see the money being spent on research into prevention, treatment and a cure.

“I get to visit these centres, which taps into my ‘geeky’ science side as well,” says Tamsyn, referring to her degree in neuro-science which she gained at Glasgow University.

Tamsyn considered psychology before settling on neuro-science, a biological insight into the workings of the brain.

Working in the press office for a Bradford-based mail order company in between her studies gave Tamsyn a taste for PR and marketing, a route she decided to follow once she had completed her degree, joining Hallmark at its Heaton headquarters six years ago.

“I started off in the trade marketing department, launching all the new products and launching it to the sales team,” she says.

Joining the company’s communications team has given her the opportunity to become more involved in press and PR, where she found her forte. As communications manager, she still promotes Hallmark’s card ranges such as Forever Friends and Purple Ronnie, while also becoming involved in projects such as the Cards for a Cure campaign and the pink day, an internal event where staff wear pink to work to raise awareness about the breast cancer campaign.

She was due to meet presenter and chat show host Tricia Goddard, who has battled the disease, and Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw – celebrities who are backing the charity campaign. Weather presenter Sian Lloyd is another celebrity she met while visiting the research centres.

Being able to promote such a campaign around her favourite time of the year makes it all the more special.

“I am really close to my mum, so I love Mother’s Day anyway and I make a big fuss,” she says.

Working with and promoting cards, Tamsyn is aware of the impact they can have on the recipient, which is why she favours personalised ranges – a service Hallmark is now offering online.

“No-one sends a card in anger; it’s always to cheer someone up,” says Tamsyn. “It’s nice to work for a company which has cards that talk about caring, and the operating side is completely in affinity with that.”

* Bradford College offers courses relating to a career in PR and marketing. To find out more call (01274) 433333. For further information about Hallmark's Cards for a Cure campaign, go to hallmark.co.uk.