Wellingtonians “Skipping For Life”

Herceptin Fundraising Campaign To Have Wellingtonians “Skipping For Life”

Pharmac should abandon its proposed funding of nine-week Herceptin treatments for women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer, says a local academic who has so far had six months of Herceptin treatment.

Chris Walsh points out data must be collected over several years before the efficacy of nine weeks can be seen, whereas data is available now for the international standard of 12 months.

“There are good questions to ask about the timing and duration of Herceptin treatment, but don’t do it at the expense of New Zealand women’s lives,” Walsh says.

A senior lecturer in Victoria University’s Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Walsh says she supports the new national charity, Skip for Life, which aims to build a fund for women recommended for Herceptin but unable to pay.

Walsh will be at Skip for Life‘s “mass skip” launch event, which is to be held at 10am in Frank Kitts Park on Wellington Wharf this Sunday (April 22).

Skip for Life – Create a Different Tomorrow, which is the brainchild of Auckland businesswoman, registered nurse and mother of two Jacqueline Harrison, is a mass skipping fundraising event which aims to raise funds for early-stage breast cancer sufferers unable to pay for the potential life-saving but expensive treatment, Herceptin.

As the name suggests, Skip for Life will see sponsored skippers gather together, link arms and skip in long lines to raise money and show their support for women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

Jacqueline says Skip for Life seeks to alleviate undue stress on women who have already undergone surgery and chemotherapy and to support them, their families and friends by fundraising on their behalf.

Says Jacqueline: “The funds raised in each area will go directly to fund Herceptin treatment for women in the same area who are unable to pay for their treatment.”

Walsh, whose partner, family, friends and supporters have clubbed together to pay for some of her Herceptin so far, says: “Skip for Life is showing brilliant leadership on this issue that impacts so many New Zealand women and their communities.”

People who cannot attend on the day to skip or make a donation can sponsor others taking part; make regular monthly or one-off donations; and/or buy Skip for Life T-shirts, including one designed by leading New Zealand fashion designer Liz Mitchell.

ENDS