Global Illumination Campaign For Breast Cancer

26 September 2003
Media Release For Immediate Distribution

SKY TOWER TO LEAD GLOBAL ILLUMINATION CAMPAIGN FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

SKYCITY Auckland will once again show its support for International Breast Cancer Awareness Month by being among the first of a number of world icons to be bathed in pink light.

Sky Tower’s pink lighting (1 – 31 October 2003) is part of the Global Landmark Illumination Campaign, which sees monuments in over 140 countries illuminated in pink light, to promote global awareness of breast cancer.

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation’s Educator, Amanda Gray, says that there is increasing awareness about the disease, but with over 2000 women in New Zealand being diagnosed each year (over 44 new cases a week), the need for information to motivate women to look after themselves is as important as ever.

“Most families, workplaces and communities in New Zealand have been touched in some way by the disease. Although the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer are between 50 – 70 years, it can hit anyone at any age.

The disease affects not only women (and around one percent of men), but also impacts on their partners, children, family and friends,” she says.

For the second year running, SKYCITY Auckland has challenged other New Zealand cities to join them in a national campaign, to have city icons lit pink to heighten the breast cancer awareness message in local communities.

“As an ongoing supporter of The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, SKYCITY Auckland is pleased to once again be a part of the Global Illumination Landmark Campaign by lighting Sky Tower pink, which we have done every year since the idea was initiated by Estee Lauder in 2000,” said Media Relations Manager for SKYCITY Entertainment Group, Delwyn Lewer.

This year the National Illumination Campaign will see Sky Tower being lit pink on Wednesday October 1st at dusk (around 7:00pm) followed by Gisborne’s Clock Tower, the city lights in Rotorua’s main square, SKYCITY Hamilton (Riverside Entertainment Centre) Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre, Dunedin’s Town Hall and the Water Tower in Invercargill.

To mark the lighting of Sky Tower this year, Marcia Fraser (a breast cancer survivor and awareness campaign personality for the Foundation) will take her passion for the cause to new heights by scaling Sky Tower to help erect the pink light bulbs.

The recent convert to race car driving and president of the Auckland “Busting With Life” dragon boat team, will lead fellow breast cancer survivors to reach some of the highest open air lamps on Sky Tower on Wednesday 01 October 2003.

Marcia says she is looking forward to the challenge.

“Having battled breast cancer, I believe in grabbing life with both hands, enjoying everyday opportunities and just doing it! I hope that Sky Tower being lit pink in the campaign colours will help further promote the national breast screening programme, she said.

As well as lighting Sky Tower pink at night for the entire month of October, SKYCITY Entertainment Group will produce and distribute complimentary breast cancer awareness fridge magnets to health professionals in SKYCITY regions (Auckland, Hamilton and Queenstown). Pink Ribbons will also be sold during the month at all SKYCITY Entertainment Group properties (SKYCITY Auckland, SKYCITY Hamilton and SKYCITY Queenstown Casino) and a free seminar on breast health will be held for staff at each of the sites.

The annual national Pink Ribbon Street Appeal (on Friday October 10) will help raise funds for the fight against breast cancer in New Zealand.

Free seminars showcasing the latest in breast cancer research, medical trials and breast screening, will be held in Auckland (Baradene College Auditorium, 237 Victoria Avenue, Remuera at 7.00pm, Tuesday 7 October) and in Christchurch (Tuesday 14 October, 7:00pm at the Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences). To register, phone 0800 902-732 or visit www.nzbcf.org.nz.

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is a charitable trust that aims to educate all New Zealand women about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. Funds raised from the 2003 Pink Ribbon Day will go towards supporting the Foundation’s nationwide community education and awareness activities as well as initiatives within the vital field of breast cancer research.

SKYCITY has been proud to support the Foundation in its endeavours since 2000.

Other famous icons taking part in this year’s Global Illumination Campaign from around the globe include the Empire State Building in New York; the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Arco di Constantino and the Ponte Vecchio in Italy; Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada; Tokyo Tower, Tokyo, Japan; Table Mountain, Capetown, South Africa; Harrods department store, London; The Park Hyatt Hotel on Sydney Harbour, Australia; Vienna City Hall, Vienna, Austria; the Angel of Peace in Munich, Germany; L’Obelisque de Louxor in the Place de la Concorde, Paris, France; Seoul Nam-San Tower in Seoul, Korea; Monumento de la Madre and La Diana Cazadora in Mexico City, Mexico; Burj al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the Marriot Royal Aurora Hotel in Moscow, Russia.

Breast cancer is the biggest cause of cancer related deaths in New Zealand women – more women die from breast cancer every year than our nationwide road toll.

For further information on breast health and breast cancer, phone The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation on TelstraClear toll free 0800 902 732, or visit the Foundation’s website www.nzbcf.org.nz.

Ends

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