Latest News
The Waikato Breast Cancer Trust (WBCT) is again selling their popular NZ Women's Health Diary for 2012. The diary costs just $14.95 and can be purchased through the WBCT website or by emailing direct on julie.wilson2@waikatodhb.health.nz. All funds raised go back to the WBCT breast cancer research programme.
Visit www.wbct.org.nz to purchase online.
The Pink Dragons are really only at the start of the dragon boat season but training is well under way. They are enjoying being back on the water again and already have several regattas under their belts including Tauranga and the Hamilton Super 12. They have welcomed several new keen paddlers into the team and both of these events were great fun and good to get the team back into racing mode.
Coming up before Christmas are the Wenderholm Beach Races and after the break the New Year kicks off with the Auckland Anniversary Super 10’s. Training will then focus on preparation for the Regionals at Lake Pupuke and the Nationals in Ashburton.
Sweet Louise launched its collection of creative writing by Members entitled Oysters for Lunch at a gala Christmas fundraising event held at Auckland’s Pah Homestead on 4 December. The event also celebrated the five-year anniversary of Sweet Louise.
Over 150 guests gathered for an evening of fine food and wine, fabulous auctions and raffles, inspiring performances by soloists from The NBR Opera NZ, carol singing and readings from Oysters for Lunch.
The Waikato Dragon Boat Association recently organised a regatta on Lake Rotoroa, Hamilton.
Everyone had a great day and enjoyed being out on the water, even when the weather decided to be a little unpredictable.
The Waikato Treasure Chests were involved in five races, which included the Breast Cancer Survivor race.
The 2011/2012 season got off to a great start with a regatta in November held by the Bay of Plenty Dragon Boat Club. Despite the extremely windy day, the sun peeped out and there was lots of laughter and fun as teams hit the water for their races.
Five breast cancer teams competed in the Breast Cancer Final: Busting with Life and Pink Dragons from Auckland; Treasure Chests from Waikato; and the Taranaki Dragons and Boobops from the Bay of Plenty.
While there is a great sisterhood within the teams they are all very competitive on the water! There was great racing but the Boobops shone and won by a boat length.
The Annual ACB PACIFICA Breast Cancer Walk and Breakfast on October 8 was just one of the events the organisation has held throughout this year. It was truly a gathering that brought about awareness, support and fellowship. The morning was also a chance for them all to celebrate and remember their champions. The overwhelming turnout of nearly 200 and radiant smiles at such early hours of the morning was another reminder of just how much they have to be thankful for. All who were able to make the morning event made it a memorable one and embraced the essence of what the morning was all about.
What is PACIFICA Auckland Central all about?
BCAC committee members Chris Walsh, Jenny Williams and Rowena Mortimer recently attended the 10th National Psycho Social Oncology Conference in Hamilton. The theme for this year’s conference was Shaking up psycho oncology practice, practicalities and possibilities. The BCAC team gave a presentation about the development and creation of Kiwi Stories of Breast Cancer, the BCAC web videos.
The two-day conference was well organised. Following a warm welcome and opening session by Fiona Pearson of the Cancer Society, key note addresses were given by Dr James Brennan, a consultant psychologist in the United Kingdom, and Dr Pamela McGrath, Senior Research Fellow, Director International Programme of Psychosocial Health Research at Griffith University in Queensland.
PACIFICA Auckland had a busy month in October focusing on Breast Cancer Action – they held a Breast Cancer Walk & Breakfast which 200 women attended. Below is the link to their branch October newsletter which highlights their activities along with lots of photos.
BCAC Deputy Chair Chris Walsh and committee member Sue Ellis recently returned from the 16th International Reach to Recovery conference “Reach Towards a New Horizon”, held this year in Taipei, Taiwan.
More than 700 delegates attended the conference, making this the largest ever ‘Reach to Recovery’. Delegates travelled from a wide variety of countries, with 430 from Taiwan, more than 100 from Malaysia and smaller representations from most other countries including 26 from Australia, four from New Zealand and just two from Ireland, the UK, Nigeria, Malta and Zambia, to name a few.
For this year’s fundraising the Cansurvive Dragon Boat Team decided to produce a calendar – but not just any calendar. Their calendar, A Celebration of Women, features team members posing "Calendar Girls" style with dragon boat props!
After a bit of encouragement, lots of laughs and a glass of wine they stripped to show the world that they are vibrant, gorgeous and sexy women despite various surgeries and cancer treatments. It is tasteful and fun and shows that they are getting on and living life - truly a celebration. Perfect they are not, with all shapes, sizes and ages – but they are real women showing how indiscriminate this disease can be.
