Local Pink Ribbon Street Appeal organiser calls for volunteers

Queenstown and Arrowtown businesses and individuals are being asked to give just two hours of their time to help support this year’s Pink Ribbon Street Appeal next month (October).

Local organiser Julie Hughes is calling on supporters to dive into the back of the wardrobe and dig out their most outrageous pink costumes for fundraising on Friday October 11 and Saturday October 12.

For the past six years Ms Hughes and daughter Megan have hit the streets with local volunteers in Arrowtown, raising up to $4000 a year to fund information and support services in the district for breast cancer, the most common cancer affecting women in New Zealand.

This year she is expanding her fundraising efforts into Queenstown – The Glebe General Manager Anne Henley has agreed to co-ordinate the volunteers in Queenstown working alongside the Inner Wheel club which helps collect on the Friday.

Ms Hughes is also bringing down former C4 presenter and breast cancer sufferer Helena McAlpine to spread the word about early detection and treatment. Last year Ms McAlpine, mother of a 10-year-old daughter, was told that the breast cancer she'd been fighting had returned, and that her situation was terminal. Doctors estimate she has less than three years to live.

“We took on the fundraising six years ago because no-one else was doing it, so my aim this year is to at least double the amount of money we raise for this hugely important cause,” said Ms Hughes.

“Early detection is the biggest key to decreasing risk and fighting this disease. If someone is diagnosed it affects not only the person suffering but their family and friends, and I can tell you there are a number of women here in our community in this situation right now.

“It can strike at any time, no matter what your age, so people need to know that it not only affects older women. What people often find surprising is that it also affects men. People need to be more aware of changes to their body and if they think something’s not right, get it checked out straight away.

“For the Pink Ribbon fundraising what I’m looking for is businesses and individuals who are prepared to give up just two hours of their time, get dressed up in pink if they want to, have a bit of a laugh and some fun with it, and set up some key collection points around Queenstown and Arrowtown.

“If people get in touch with me I’ll set them up with a time and a place and I’m happy for businesses to also have a collection box at their office, especially if they have high foot traffic.”

The Queenstown Chamber of Commerce is organising a special Ladies Morning Tea session with Helena at 10.15am on Friday October 11 where she will talk about her situation and the help on offer with a range of support programmes, and the audience will also hear from local breast cancer survivor Diana McIlwrick.

A number of local businesses are already supporting Ms McAlpine’s trip and the Pink Ribbon fundraiser including The Glebe Apartments, Flight Centre Queenstown, Helitours, Shotover Jet, Southern PR, Skyline Gondola and Luge and Sheena Haywood Photography along with Arrow Events.

Anyone interested in helping with fundraising is asked to contact Julie Hughes on Julie@arrowevents.co.nz or by calling her on 027 633 1252.

Breast Cancer – New Zealand facts and figures

·         Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in New Zealand.
·         One in three cancers occurring in New Zealand women is breast cancer
·         Approximately 2,800 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year – over seven a day
·         Over 600 women die from breast cancer each year
·         One in nine women in New Zealand will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime
·         75% of women who develop breast cancer are 50 years of age and over
·         Maori women have a 66% higher mortality rate than non-Maori
·         1 in 10 men in New Zealand will lose a sister, mother, daughter or wife to breast cancer
·         Close to 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for more than five years after their initial diagnosis
·         While uncommon, men can get breast cancer too
·         The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation recommends annual mammograms for women aged 40-49, then every two years from age 50

For more information please read: http://www.nzbcf.org.nz/Portals/0/Documents/bcf_postionstatment_july09.pdf