Heavens rain on pink parade

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s Pink Caravan was due to visit Levin, Palmerston North and Wanganui this week but the near biblical rains of Cyclone Debbie have forced Dianne Swann, Pink Caravan Project Coordinator, to call off the visits.

The cancellation is a huge disappointment, for both BCFNZ and the local health providers who had all put in a tremendous amount of effort to organise exciting days to coincide with the visits. To make matters worse, this is not the first time that the Manawatu-Wanganui region has missed out on its dose of pink. The tour was stopped in its tracks by the magnitude 5.2 earthquake that shook Wellington and Kaikoura last year.

The Pink Caravan began its third nationwide tour in early September last year with an ‘’Upstairs Downstairs’’ Pamper Day event at the Number 1 Parnell Gallery in Rawene, Northland. The day was a big win for breast and cervical cancer awareness, ending with a performance from Auckland-based band Valkyrie.

The tour planned for a further 31 visits to centres around Aoteaora, only missing the weather-affected Manawatu-Wanganui region, which were to be the final three stops. Despite the dampened end to the tour, the future of the Pink Caravan is only looking brighter with planning about to begin for the fourth tour, which will begin in September of this year. Levin, Palmerston North and Wanganui will be top of the list.

The Pink Caravan brings free advice about breast cancer and breast health to more rural areas that don’t have the same access to health services that larger cities have. Every year the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting just how important this service is to achieving our zero deaths from breast cancer vision, through teaching breast awareness.

‘’What a brilliant ‘vehicle’ you have to share such an important message,’’ said Sulita and Aumate, two women from the South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services. ‘’For our first visit as young Pacific Island women you have caught our attention, shown your genuine care and knowledge that many of us (everyone really) can benefit from. Thank you. Stick around and serve on.”

For more information on the Pink Caravan, contact Dianne Swann (diannes@bcf.org.nz).