Breast Cancer Month raises over $1 million

Media Release

Friday 16th January 2009

Breast Cancer Awareness Month raises over $1 million

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation raised over $1.3 million dollars through major fundraising activities during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On Friday October 10 the ‘Pink Army’ of volunteers collected almost $805,000 during the national Pink Ribbon Street Appeal. Retail sales of pink pins and wristbands through schools, clubs and small business generated a further $250,000. Community giving from individual fundraising efforts has raised $104,000 to date. Based on the experience of previous street appeals, a final figure will not be available until March when businesses and individuals reconcile accounts for the financial year end.

An additional $180,000 was raised through the Dove Pink Star Walk and strategic partnerships with Firestone, Bunnings, Loyalty NZ and Kiwi Blue. The Dove Pink Star Walk, held in The Auckland Domain raised a total of $45,000 while Firestone’s Pink Cap Drive raised over $60,000 and Kiwi Blue donates $75,000 annually from sales of bottled water.

Over 4500 volunteers throughout the country contributed to the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal which is The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation's major fundraising activity, raising a total of $1,329.00 to date. Executive Trustee Heather Shotter says that the result is impressive with the downturn in the economy. ”We are ahead of where we were last year which is an excellent result for The Foundation- especially in the current economic climate.”

The New Zealand community has shown great support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month though a range of activities held on behalf of The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Heather Shotter says it’s great that so many people are getting behind the cause – “It is important we do not get complacent, early detection is still our best protection against breast cancer. We are an ageing population and the incidence of breast cancer is greatest in women aged 50-69. This coupled with the uptake of free screening mammograms for women aged 45 – 69 means that the rate of diagnosis will continue to increase”

The funds raised from Breast Cancer Awareness Month enable The Foundation to extend their grants to public health organisations to assist them to buy better diagnostic equipment for breast cancer patients. Shotter is enthusiastic about the application of funds raised from Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” We will continue to get those key life-saving messages out around the country through our free seminars and educational resources, and continue to advocate for better treatments for women with breast cancer. For those women who already have the disease, we want to expand our support and rehabilitation programmes throughout New Zealand”

ENDS

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