Breast Cancer Conference Just Two Weeks Away

First National Breast Cancer Conference Only Two Weeks Away

New Zealanders have only one more week to register for the first national conference for those affected by breast cancer. Final preparations are now underway for the conference, hosted by the Breast Cancer Network (NZ) in Rotorua in October starting on the 26th of this month.

The three day talk-fest will open with internationally acclaimed breast surgeon, breast cancer researcher and women's health advocate, Dr Susan Love, as its keynote speaker.

"There has been huge support around the country for this conference," says Dell Gee, one of the conference organisers. "There are bus loads and car loads of women coming from all over the country."

For many women their enthusiasm has boiled over into the community and translated into amazing support for getting the women to the conference - free transport, great accommodation deals, fundraising - and importantly for the month of October, raising awareness of the impact that breast cancer has on families and the community..

One of the highlights of the conference is shaping up to be the Ora Creative Exhibition. While the focus so far has been on the incredible line-up of speakers for the plenary sessions and workshops, preparation for Ora has been quietly going on in the background.

Ora - Maori for healing - is about the way in which women express, share and recover from their journey with breast cancer. Art therapy is increasingly recognised as a great way for some women to work through the mental and physical pain of their diagnosis and treatment.

Artist, exhibitor and breast cancer survivor, Diane Toulmin says: "It is a healthy way of expressing yourself and it is very relaxing,"

By her own admission, she is "a doer, not a talker," so when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 at the age of 45, it was the most natural thing in the world for her to deal with it through her art.

"I feel like I've dealt with it, I'm done with it. I got all the feelings out, it's done and I've moved onwards and upwards." Her own background in art therapy has given her a very positive perspective on the role of art in recovery from, dealing with and moving on from breast cancer.

Curated by Rotorua artist and owner of the Raukura Gallery, June Grant, Ora will exhibit a wide range of art works from sculpture to painting to poetry. The organisers believe that the exhibition is too good not to share beyond those attending the conference. Ora Creative Exhibition will be open to the public for on Friday evening (October 26),

Women who have not already done so, have only one week left to register for the most exciting event on this year's breast cancer calendar. Registrations close on the 16th of October.

ENDS

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