More than $10,000 has been raised by local businesses for the inaugural Pink Up Dubbo.
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While the final donations are still rolling in, Pink Up Dubbo committee chair Adam Wells said he’s expecting between $10,000 and $15,000 to have been raised for the McGrath Foundation.
Pink Up Dubbo was held during October to raise funds, as well as awareness for breast cancer.
Across Dubbo, more than 55 businesses turned their storefronts pink, held fundraisers and raised awareness of the cause.
“I think the McGrath Foundation and breast cancer has touched a lot of people in town, whether it’s women or men, because I know men who’ve had breast cancer too,” Mr Wells said.
Not only was it a great cause, but Mr Wells said it was also easy for businesses to get behind as turning pink for the month or holding a morning tea fundraiser were simple tasks.
Money raised from the month helps the McGrath Foundation fund breast care nurses like Margie Collins in Dubbo. It costs the foundation $12 million a year to fund their breast care nurses, which are free for the 56,000 families experiencing breast cancer.
The city’s dedication to the cause made McGrath Foundation director Tracy Bevan emotional when she visited during the campaign.
“It makes me feel so proud and so grateful for everyone from the opticians to the real estate agents. It really makes me emotional because without that support we can’t help local families who are going through breast cancer through our breast care nurses like Margie Collins,” Ms Bevan said.
Mr Wells said he hoped Pink Up Dubbo made both men and women more aware of their bodies and prompted them to take action when they noticed anything change.
Research from the McGrath Foundation has found that 73 per cent of people think they’re breast aware, but only 16 per cent are.
“The scariest thing is those who think they’re breast aware are actually passing along the wrong information. They think they’re doing a great thing but actually they’re passing on all the wrong information about how to check your breasts and what the risk factors are,” Ms Bevan said.
Mr Wells said he was grateful to all the businesses who took part in the campaign, especially Dubbo Regional Council who helped promote the cause through acts like turning the rotunda lights pink, and Church Street Cafe, which was a great help during the launch.
Once the dust settles, he said the committee would definitely look at bringing the event back next year.