Geelong woman shares her story for PINK BUN fundraiser

Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) in partnership with Bakers Delight has launched its annual Pink Bun fundraiser to support Aussies affected by breast cancer.

This year’s campaign features shirtless breast cancer survivors and fighters holding baked goods over their surgery scars to highlight the confronting challenges of the disease and how sufferers bravely overcome them.

Geelong woman and breast cancer advocate Emma Morrissey posed in front of the lens last month in support of the initiative and said she was proud to share the photos publicly.

“I was a bit nervous, but having seen the end results, the images are really empowering for all of us women and men,” the 29-year-old said.

Emma discovered a lump on her breast in September last year after having an itchy nipple for about a month.

The disability support worker visited her GP and was sent off for an ultra-sound and a biopsy which showed she was positive for breast cancer.

“I’ve had six months of chemo, which finished last week. I’m in the process  of organising a bilateral mastectomy (surgical removal of both breasts),” she said.

“I’m glad to be done with chemo, but I still feel like there’s a long road ahead after the surgery. I’ll still be on hormone blockers for about 10 years. It’s a long process, but it’s been good to tick a couple of boxes.”

Emma first got involved with BCNA shortly after her diagnosis and put her hand up to volunteer for promotional fundraisers in the hope of raising awareness about the importance of breast checks.

But when the campaign went live and was uploaded to Facebook last Thursday, the images were taken down for breaching the social media giant’s nudity policy.

A statement from Facebook said the campaign images were selling a product and didn’t contain educational information about the disease or how men and women should examine their breasts.

A statement from BCNA and Bakers Delight said the partners were “deeply disappointed” by Facebook’s “nonsensical decision” after the images were “previously approved”.

Emma said she felt neutral about Facebook’s decision and instead managed to share the images on her own account on May 2.

“My family and friends were pretty outraged, but I don’t really mind,” she said. “I’ve been amazed at the response to the images and how they blew up quite quickly. I’m proud of them.”

The Pink Bun campaign will run until May 29 in all Bakers Delight bakeries across Australia.

Until May 15, 100 per cent of Pink Fun Bun sales will be donated to BCNA. Use the hashtag #breastfriends to show your support.