Sweet Support for Wellington Women

17th September 2009

For immediate release

Sweet Support for Wellington Women

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) is pleased to announce the expansion of Sweet Louise services to the Wellington region.

The launch of Sweet Louise Wellington was held at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School in Karori on Wednesday 16th September at 6.00 pm. Over 200 people attended including many local business leaders, medical professionals, MPs and other dignitaries. 

Sweet Louise is a charitable trust that provides wellbeing programmes for women with secondary breast cancer, including counselling and emotional support, physical wellbeing and everyday around-the-home help.

“Sweet Louise services have previously been available only to those living in the Auckland and Northland area, so we are excited to be able to give access to these excellent services to the women of Wellington living with breast cancer” says Executive Trustee of NZBCF, Heather Shotter.

In 2009 NZBCF formalised an agreement with the Auckland based organisation, to help expand its service programme nationally, committing over $500,000 over the next three years. The expansion into breast cancer support services is one of the key initiatives that The Foundation is fundraising for in October – Breast Cancer Action Month.

Ms Shotter says The Foundation wants to ensure these vital services reach as many women as possible. “Regardless of where they live, New Zealand women should be able to access all the support they need to get through this difficult time. As a long standing national organisation, we are in a position to support smaller organisations in expanding their services. We all want the same thing – to improve outcomes for New Zealand women with

breast cancer. Now, more than ever, we need to be working together to improve results for New Zealand women.”

Expanding to the capital is a milestone for Sweet Louise, one Executive Director Jennifer Clark is understandably proud of. “This is the beginning of our move to offer services throughout the country and has been possible only because of the generous support of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation and the support of a large number of local friends of the Louise Perkins Foundation, led by Ginny Morrison.”

Organiser Ginny Morrison says that everyone she meets is looking forward to welcoming Sweet Louise to Wellington. “People are so positive,” she says, “and that’s great considering Sweet Louise hasn’t had a profile here.  I’m really enjoying this experience. Louise Perkins was my fabulous, strong, positive and smiling school friend and this is a chance to say thanks to her for her quiet courage during those long years of battle with breast cancer.” 

If you would like to learn more about Sweet Louise or be sent a Sweet Louise brochure to pass on to someone you know, please go to www.sweetlouise.co.nz or email them on info@sweetlouise.co.nz.

If you would like to find out more about the services and programmes that The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation support go to www.nzbcf.org.nz. 

ENDS

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