Auckland raised over $250,000 for Breast Cancer

Media Release

21January 2009

Auckland raised over $250,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness

Auckland volunteers raised an exceptional $250,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, 2008.

Contributing to a national total of over $1 million Auckland’s ‘Pink Army’ successfully raised funds through the Pink Ribbon Day Street Appeal collections and community events held on behalf of The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.

Auckland based clubs and organisations involved in fundraising through community events in October include Whitcoulls, MOTAT and ECU Line Ltd along with over 50 others. Executive Trustee Heather Shotter says that The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Auckland community. “We could not have achieved such a great result without the help of our volunteers.”

On Friday October 10 the ‘Pink Army’ of over 4500 volunteers collected almost $805,000 during the national Pink Ribbon Street Appeal which is The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation's major fundraising activity. 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.

Funds raised in Breast Cancer Awareness Month enable The Foundation to extend their grants to public health organizations to assist them to buy better diagnostic equipment for breast cancer patients.

Ms Shotter is enthusiastic about the application of the 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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