Stump day’s success is pretty in pink

THE BIGGEST, most successful event yet is how Kate Every described Collendina Cricket Club’s third Pink Stumps Ladies Day on Saturday, with more than 120 ladies in attendance.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and ladies who dug deep, organiser Kate Every said it was the “most successful yet”.

“We raised $6,600 for the McGrath Foundation. It was a fantastic day filled with gorgeous women with lots of love in the room.

“The best part was seeing new faces which means the event is getting bigger than just the cricket club itself, which is really fantastic.”

Guests enjoyed a glass or two of bubbles, live music, raffle prizes and were moved by local Ocean Grove guest speaker Toni Smith, 40, who shared her breast cancer story.

“I found a lump in my breast and went and got it checked out straight away, the GP thought it was a cyst. A couple of days later I found another lump under my left arm,” Ms Smith said.

“I had a mammogram and the original lump did turn out to be a cyst, but there was a whole bunch of other lumps I was unable to feel that turned out to be cancerous.”

The mother of three was diagnosed in February 2019 and underwent two surgeries, including a mastectomy, then started six months of chemotherapy.

“The most surprising part when I share my story is when women congratulate me for acting so quickly once I found the lump. They say they would’ve sat on it for a couple of months,” she said.

“My cancer was so aggressive, who knows what my prognosis would’ve been if I sat on. That’s why I’m sharing my story and encouraging women at any age to check their breasts.”