Bras hanging on the line didn’t stop these men from heading into the Gloucester CWA Rooms for the annual Pink Ribbon Breakfast.
The display of colourful brassieres was hung from the CWA sign about a week before the highly anticipated event as a way of drawing attention to the cause.
Gloucester Country Women’s Association (CWA) evening branch secretary, Donna Kemp said the bras were donated to help decorate for the occasion.
“Funds raised from the breakfast go to both cancer support groups in Gloucester,” Donna explained.
“The breast cancer groups supports all women with cancer and the prostate cancer group support all men with cancer.”
The event on Tuesday, October 23, which as been running for the past 15 years, attracted supporters of all ages and genders wanting to do their part to help raise money for the community groups.
Among the 80 people who came between 7.30am and 10.30am were several men there to support their wives and partners who have been diagnosed with cancer, while several others were attending the event for the first time.
One such person was Michiel Köhne, a visiting assistant professor from the Netherlands who is in town conducting research.
Michiel heard about the breakfast from John Rosenbaum, whose wife is the founding member of the Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group.
“They invited me to come,” Michiel said.
So he did.
Some attendees like Rae Davies, Norma Relf and Di Mansfield have been enjoying the wonderful breakfast since its inception.
CWA members were busy in the kitchen cooking up a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs to go with the continental accompaniments, including toast, cereal and fruit.
A few Gloucester residents stopped by for a quick breakfast before going to work, for the bargain price of $10.
Thanks to the generous support of local businesses, there were even a few raffle prizes on offer.
The lucky attendees to have their names drawn were Kathy Leimgruber, Bev Murray, Norma Relf ...and Darlene Harrison.
The room was a sea of pink, with many members of the Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group patronising the event, and blue with members of the Gloucester Prostate Cancer Group also on hand.
Some people were just there to support the cause, providing funding support to the groups who support those in the community going through cancer treatment.
Funds are used to help families in dire need with costs of travel to treatment and loss of wage become a financial burden. Both groups have members trained in counselling, who can provide moral support and words of comfort.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group meet the first Monday of each month, 2pm at the Gloucester Senior Citizen Centre.
This follows September’s Prostate Cancer Month, an annual international health campaign organised by major prostate cancer charities, health experts, health advocates, and individuals concerned with men’s prostate health to help create awareness and raise the much needed funds to help in the fight against prostate cancer.
Gloucester Prostate Cancer Support Group meet the fourth Thursday Evening of each month, 6.15pm for 6.30pm at the CWA Hall Church Street.
The breakfast raised about $1250.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
