Pink power in the Marsh

By Lachlan Ellis

Do you know if cancer is a hereditary risk in your family? Many Aussies don’t, and a local event will be held in a few months’ time highlighting that fact, and raising funds for a great cause.

The ‘Get Your Pink On’ luncheon is being held at the Bacchus Marsh Golf Club on 9 September, with a percentage of the $70 ticket sales going to non-profit charity Pink Hope, which works to educate and support Australians regarding hereditary cancer risk.

Dress in a little pink, or a lot of pink, and come down for a day of entertainment and laughter, while also learning about an important topic.

Local campaigner Rochelle McKenry is organising the luncheon, and said the cause was particularly close to her heart.

“Pink Hope focus on support, education, and advocacy for families of hereditary cancers such as breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer. They also focus on genetic cancer mutations which make people who are carriers more at-risk of developing breast, ovarian or prostate cancer,” she told the Moorabool News.

“This is very personal for me as I am from a family that is five-generation breast and ovarian cancer battlers, and are carriers of the BRCA2 gene mutation. This makes us high-risk of developing these cancers. Genetic testing is optional to all, so the possibility of our family having the genetic mutation is greatly higher.”

The local event will be focused on raising awareness in Moorabool to genetic cancers, and gene mutations such as BRCA1 – made famous by Angelina Jolie, who went through risk-management surgery to reduce her risk of developing these cancers.

“To have the knowledge of prevention, and a possibility to plan a course of action before recognising you may or may not carry a cancer, is a positive to all,” Ms McKenry said.

“Pink Hope do amazing work. My family discovered we’re carriers of BRCA2 through The Familial Cancer Clinic by battling five generations of breast and ovarian cancers, and that’s why I find it so important to know your history.”

The Get Your Pink On luncheon will run from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday 9 September, and will feature a three-course meal, a key speaker from Pink Hope, silent auctions, raffles, prizes, and more.

For more information, email [email protected].