After the success of her virtual Pink Ribbon Breakfast in 2020, Bex Lintott is looking forward to this year’s event in person! Hosting with two of her girlfriends at the Halcombe Memorial Hall, Bex says it will be a “fun fundraiser” to raise awareness for a serious cause.
During New Zealand’s first lockdown in 2020, I got sick of wearing activewear all day, every day. I was definitely missing getting dressed up in nice clothes!
Unable to get together in person like we normally would for Pink Ribbon Breakfast, two of my girlfriends, Hollie Howland and Michelle Simpson and I decided to take things virtual to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
We put out a call to action on social media. Our mission was simple: don your most fabulous frock, a pair of gumboots, slap on some pink lippy, and send us your photos! We also invited the ladies to donate to our campaign and share it with their friends.
Photos and donations came in far and wide with women from all over the country and even one as far away as California, took part, and challenged their friends to do so too. Some put on their wedding dresses for the occasion! In total we raised $1,010.
After a Covid-19 induced hiatus last year, we are excited for this year’s event, which we are hosting at the Halcombe Memorial Hall on 21st May. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from us directly, or through online banking or by paying cash on the night. The event is open to everyone, and we’d be thrilled if we could rally 200 attendees.
With a district nurse as well as a radiation specialist and a breast cancer survivor as guest speakers, we know everyone would get something out of attending. Not to mention the raffle, stalls and treats on arrival!
The aim is for it to be a bit of fun to raise awareness and remove the stigma for a serious cause.
My grandma had breast cancer before I was born and had to have a mastectomy. She ended up living until she was 97 and I was always intrigued by the breast inserts she used!
I also have two friends in Wellington, and a 27 year old colleague who have breast cancer. Watching them navigate through this incredibly tough journey, I can see what amazing warriors these women are.
With Halcombe a small town in between Bulls and Feilding, I am looking forward to getting our community together, and re-connecting after the trials that Covid-19 has brought.
Organising this event has been really special, not least hearing personal stories of those impacted by breast cancer.
We want everyone to know that they are able to help and contribute, especially in the simple act of just having these important conversations with the ones they love.
Being rurally based it can be easy to become isolated and events like this gives us the opportunity to get together, have some fun with our neighbours and at the same time have the important conversations about breast cancer.
