Going pink this weekend for Pinikilicious
13 February 2014
Show your support, wear it with pink for the Pinikilicious awareness campaign this Saturday.
The Pinikilicious event this Saturday honours and celebrates Pasifika women and encourages them to recognise the
importance of their health and wellbeing in support of women and young girls and to build valuable community and church
relationships.
“Pinikilicious came about as we have lost too many of our mothers, sisters, aunties, and friends to the Cancer disease.
This is our second year for us to be proactive and maintain the health and wellbeing of our women and girls within our
churches and Pinikilicious delivers just that”, says Caroline Mareko, event coordinator.
“One of the key activities for Pinikilicious is to target women aged 45-69 years to register in the breast screening
programme, as the uptake in this programme is still low in Porirua. Cancer is the top most common disease affecting
Pasifika women.”
“I’m confident to say that most Pasifika families have either been directly impacted or know of someone who has been
battling with cancer as a terrible disease. This is just our way to raise awareness and say to our community that we
need to celebrate our loved ones and the contribution of women in our lives”.
The Pinikilicious Organising Committee helped plan this year’s effort “but it takes the dedication and support of our
churches and communities to make this year’s campaign a success”.
“I am very proud of the women who have volunteered to come forward to register or have their screening and to the brave
and courageous women who are willing to share their stories of battling with cancer on the day.”
“Pinikilicious is one way of reaching out to other women and I would like to acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors
Capital & Coast DHB; Catalyst Pacific Limited; Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs; Pasifika Proud of Families and Communities,
Ministry of Social Development for supporting our campaign.”
Over 100 women and young girls attended Pinikilicious event last year and the organising committee is expecting the same
number or more this year.
ENDS