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Contributed by The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation
Registrations are now open for the Estee Lauder Companies Pink Star Walks in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Thousands of Kiwis are expected to walk in support of the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation, with funds raised helping support women with breast cancer, and enabling public education around the importance of mammograms for early detection.
Egging them on will be broadcaster Stacey Morrison, NZBCF ambassador, who will MC the Walks. “This is a great chance to support women recovering from breast cancer and at the same time have some fun and enjoy some physical activity,” said Morrison, who lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age. She has made a personal commitment to keeping fit and active in her forties, and loves the camaraderie of events like the Pink Star Walk.
The Pink Star Walk, already much loved by Aucklanders, was held for the first time in Wellington and Christchurch last year. Participants can choose a 10km walk, or a 5km option that’s popular with families. In Christchurch, there’s also a half-marathon (21km) walk.
The Wellington walk is first up, on Saturday October 3. The waterfront walk starts and finishes in Frank Kitts Park. Auckland’s walk will be held Saturday October 17, starting in the Auckland Domain and winding through Parnell and the city before finishing back in the Domain. The Christchurch walk is on Saturday November 7, starting and finishing in North Hagley Park.
The Pink Star Walk is always a sight to behold, with many walkers dressing in pink or going all-out with imaginative team themes. Funds are raised through a combination of entry fees, personal sponsorships and donations.
“The money raised by our walkers helps fund rehabilitation programmes for women undergoing mastectomy, a major surgical procedure,” said (Mrs) Van Henderson, chief executive at the NZ Breast Cancer Foundation. “We’re also putting more funds into education around the importance of mammograms, with new ten-year survival data showing that women whose cancer is found on a mammogram have much better survival than those who find a lump. Seventy percent of eligible women currently attend mammogram screening – we want to see that go a lot higher.”
Walkers can register for the events at www.pinkstarwalk.co.nz
About The NZBCF:
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that depends on individual donations, community fundraising, grants from trusts and foundations and partnerships with business for its work in breast cancer education and awareness, medical research and training grants, advocacy, and supporting women with breast cancer. The NZBCF’s programmes are evidence-based, overseen by its medical advisory committee. The pink ribbon symbol is a trademark of the NZBCF in New Zealand.
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