It was an array of pink at Half Moon Bay for a very special Pink Ribbon fundraiser.
Almost 20 women from the Forever Fit classes at Marina Fitness gathered at Cinnamon Cafe recently to eat, drink and learn about breast cancer.
The idea for the luncheon was inspired by members of the fitness group who have experienced and survived breast cancer.
Colleen Rigby, who hosted the event, says they wanted to do their bit to support Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and all those women who have, are or will experience breast cancer.
Colleen, a Forever Fit member, says the ladies who attended the event also learnt valuable information about breast cancer in our country.
Colleen spoke about the 9s of breast cancer, what to look for in self-examination and tomosynthesis, an x-ray technique.
She said it was important for people to be educated that one in nine women in New Zealand will experience breast cancer.
“Nine women in New Zealand are diagnosed with breast cancer every day and 70 per cent of women who develop breast cancer are more than 49 years old,” she says.
She says they learnt that 92 per cent of women who have cancer detected by mammogram survive for 10 years or more, however free mammograms currently end at 69 years of age.
“There was discussion about new technology which enables digital images of “slices” of the breast to be taken, building up a 3D image of the breast.”
Along with being informative, the day was filled with lots of fun, she says.
Goody bags – which included a story by one of the members of the group about her journey through breast cancer – a raffle put together with the help of generous sponsors and bingo were among the day’s events.
The group raised $2200 for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.
