A “Boobie Breakfast”, to highlight breast cancer awareness, was hosted by Pam Golding Properties on Saturday (22 October).
The initiative is the brain child of Linda Nunes, who arranges the event annually in the memory of her mother who died of breast cancer.
Another initiative by Pam Golding during Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the “boobie bins” which allow for the donation of gently-worn bras. These go back into the community for ladies that cannot afford a bra of their own and to educate the community on early detection.
Michelle Pantelli, one of the organisers said they had guests from all walks of life and across the Western Cape attending the Boobie Breakfast, “some going through chemo themselves, some who lost a friend to cancer and others just needing encouragement.
“For a moment in time, this event caused women to pull together and stand against breast cancer, by getting educated and empowering themselves to then take it back into their communities.”
Guest speakers on the morning included Dr Jeffrey Hoffman and Sr Sandra Speelman from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) who started health promotion drives focussed on breast cancer awareness at UWC seven years ago.
Commitment to society
According to Hoffman, creating breast cancer awareness is a commitment to society because any intervention can save a life.
“From the perspective of the community, it is a form of getting involved and being active in our response to address breast cancer whether at school, church, or place of work.”
Hoffman said universities should drive change in society. “We are institutions of knowledge and it is compulsory to foster such a culture, where we share and empower our communities.”
For the past 15 years, he works on issues related to the health and wellness of women in general.
The School of Nursing at UWC has a culture of promoting health and sustainable development, he said.
Self-examination
Global statistics indicate that one in eight women get breast cancer – and approximately one in 12 in the Western Cape.
Speelman, who led the self-examination talk, said self-examination is important because it is the first and most important point to detect early signs.
Regular checking is a preventative measure, which can save lives.
It is a powerful intervention and you just need a commitment to yourself, she said.
Pantelli concluded that the morning was nothing short of spectacular.
“There were moments of tears shared, laughs and lots of support. This is a legacy that will be carried forward into the years to come. It was an honour for Pam Golding to bring this great initiative to the Cape and we look forward to hosting next year’s event.”
