In a community effort to raise awareness and funds for a new breast screening service, a group of schools in the Canterbury district have joined forces and are painting the area pink.
The district has one of the lowest screening rates in NSW, standing at just 47 per cent − well below the state average of 53 per cent.
Adding to the motivation behind the campaign are population health studies undertaken by the NSW Government Cancer Institute that estimate at least 50 women in the Canterbury area have early stages of breast cancer and are unaware of it.
“We’re on a mission to help ‘find the 50’,” said Maria Rallis, president of the McCallums Hill P&C and spokesperson for the Canterbury Alliance of P&C Associations. “By involving the school communities and parents, it’s hoped the campaign will increase awareness of the district’s health concerns.”
Due to commence on 24 October, the campaign follows on from a Shine Pink in October campaign that was led by BreastScreen NSW and the Lantern Club of Roselands.
Throughout the five days, students are being encouraged to dress in pink, the colour chosen by the Glenn McGrath Foundation, to highlight the former cricketer’s continuing concern with breast cancer.
Participating schools include Beverly Hills North Primary School, Belmore South Primary School, Hannans Road Primary School, and McCallums Hill Primary School.