Play Your Part in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

Media Release 9 September 2009

The Pink Army Needs YOU!

Play Your Part in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month internationally and The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is on a mission to recruit more than 6,000 volunteers to join the Pink Army.

The Pink Army is the nation-wide group of dedicated volunteer collectors who are the driving force behind the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal, The Foundation’s major fundraising drive on Friday 9th October.

Each year more and more New Zealanders put on their tiaras and angel wings, don pink hats or wigs and head out on to the streets selling pink ribbons and having a great time while they’re at it.

Creative costumes, fantastic displays and amazing enthusiasm from volunteers adds to the colour of the day and drives pink ribbon sales.

The Foundation has some new merchandise to sell during the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal this year says The Foundation’s Executive Trustee, Heather Shotter. “I think its fair to say that we will have something for everyone this year and we hope our new merchandise will provide an added attraction to donate to our life-saving programmes” she says.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand women, affecting over 2,500 each year1. Despite the fact that many women survive, and that there have been advances in breast cancer treatments, women in New Zealand still face a 28% greater chance of dying from breast cancer compared with women in Australia and other parts of the world.

The Foundation has committed $1.25 million this year to fund community-based rehabilitation and support programmes and special projects designed to help women deal with the physical and psychological effects of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The NZBCF is a national organisation dedicated to improving treatment outcomes for women with breast cancer and supporting those women and their families who live with the disease. It needs your support. The funds raised from the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal this October will ensure their programmes can expand and benefit more New Zealanders.

This year the Pink Ribbon Day Street Appeal will be held on Friday 9th October and The Foundation is calling on all New Zealanders to join together to create the biggest, brightest Pink Army yet!

With one in nine New Zealand women diagnosed with breast cancer, breast cancer affects us all3.

Pink Army volunteers come from all walks of life but are unified in their mission - to raise much needed funding for breast cancer education, community outreach and support programmes and research to further improve the delivery of care and treatment for those affected by the disease. Whether you have been directly affected by breast cancer or just want to help improve the wellbeing of New Zealand women, join one of the country’s biggest volunteer movements and play your part in the fight against breast cancer. Volunteers can opt to collect for a few hours, or longer, and can also join up as team leaders or area coordinators.

Heather Shotter is amazed every year by the number of people who volunteer for the Pink Army. “The support we receive from across the country is truly inspirational. Our Pink Army volunteers are essential to the success of Pink Ribbon Day, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and The Foundation’s programme of activities throughout the year,” she says.

“The more people we have on the streets collecting on Pink Ribbon Day, the more money will be raised for these vital breast cancer initiatives that will help us to save lives,” she adds. To join the Pink Army please phone TelstraClear tollfree 0508 105 105

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