Pink Ribbon Breakfast raises thousands

HUNDREDS of people came together in Curlewis for the Bellarine Women’s Network’s seventh Pink Ribbon Breakfast.

Clairbeaux hosted the annual event, where 200 guests turned out in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

Bellarine Women’s Network vice-president Karen Coulson said it was an excellent day on October 25, describing it as a “sea of pink.”

“It was loud, chatty, lots of laughter, there’s a lot of big groups come along and make it one of their highlights of the year.

“Our tickets virtually sold out the day they were released.

“We say that they actually sell out quicker than the AFL Grand Final tickets, they sell so well, we had 200 and we probably could have sold double that.”

Ticket sales, mystery envelopes and a raffle contributed to more than $15,000 being raised for the foundation.

While guests enjoyed their breakfast, they heard from Dr Jessica Da Gama Duarte, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute.

She shared insights into her work in the Cancer Immunobiology Program and the importance of early detection in fighting breast cancer.

In Australia, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer, affecting one in seven women and one in 550 men.

The NBCF is the only national body funding breast cancer research and as part of its pink Ribbon Breakfast campaign has raised more the $1.3 million.

The foundation’s goal is to reach zero deaths from breast cancer by 2023 through funding world-class research.

Ms Coulson said events such as the breakfast are important because many people have come across someone who has been touched by breast cancer and the only way to achieve zero deaths is through research.

The Bellarine Women’s Network thanked the generous sponsors and those who attended the event.