Breast cancer survivor Karen Kirkby is a passionate advocate for The McGrath Foundation breast cancer nurses.
Karen is determined to do her utmost to support the foundation in its fundraising for the awareness and prevention of breast cancer and the training and placement of specialist breast cancer nurses in every Australian community.
“I have said the doctors, surgeons and oncologists saved my life, but the breast care nurses saved my sanity,” Karen said.
She is calling on Narrabri, Wee Waa and Boggabri district communities to show ‘the power of pink’ this October and take part in the McGrath Foundation’s annual ‘Pink Up Your Town’ campaign to help families experiencing breast cancer. The aim is to turn shire towns – as much as possible – PINK.
The McGrath Foundation’s pink is the colour which is now well recognised, a powerful promotion of the huge role the foundation plays.
Karen, a plant pathologist with NSW DPI in Narrabri, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2020.
After three surgeries and five months of chemotherapy treatment, she recently received the all-clear.
Karen’s experience with McGrath breast care nurses through her ordeal motivated her to engage her home district in the Pink Up Your Town campaign.
It won’t just be Narrabri having its first PUYT experience – Karen has rounded up enthusiastic volunteers from Wee Waa and Boggabri.
“There was unanimous support from the Chamber of Commerce in each town,” Karen said.
“Our fundraising campaign is now registered as ‘Pink Up Namoi’.
“I’m really happy it’s a collective of these three towns.”
The McGrath Foundation calls on communities big or small to ‘turn their town pink’ to raise vital funds for specialist McGrath breast care nurses while also creating a visual show of support for local people going through breast cancer.
Karen was first inspired by the project in Mudgee.
“Imagine this – you’ve been in hospital in Mudgee following surgery to insert a portacath to make administering chemotherapy easier.
“You book into a local motel.”
“The following morning you awake early and take a walk down the main street.
“Everything is pink – from the shop displays to decorations on trees to bunting on lamp posts.
“It’s quite simply a stunning sight.”
Karen experienced this in October last year when she was sent to Mudgee for day surgery.
“I was just astounded at how pretty it was, and it took a while to register that all the shop fronts, everything was pink,” she said.
Karen is calling on communities across the shire to show the power of pink this October and take part in the annual Pink Up Your Town campaign to help families experiencing breast cancer, just like Mudgee did in 2020.
“I’m now in the stage of preventing reoccurrence, and I’m loving it, but preventative treatment includes having a hormone blocking needle every month which my local McGrath breast care nurse Wendy Allen administers for me.
“Wendy also provides relief through lymphedema massage.”
Karen’s experience with McGrath breast care nurses through her ordeal and that magical spring morning in Mudgee sowed the seed for her to engage her home in the Pink Up Your Town campaign.
Pink Up Namoi is set to be quite the spectacle.
Aside from the pink theme that will cover the towns, there will also be awareness and information sessions involving visiting medical specialists, support sessions for family and friends, a Pink Up Your Pooch family-friendly walk, and information stands at the markets.
“We are in the stages of planning and seeking the relevant permits to facilitate our main event in Narrabri – a Pink street dinner party in Maitland Street and hope to have more details soon.”
She said she was looking forward to seeing the community come together for such a great cause.
Karen is encouraging people to sign up and get involved with PUYT, in Narrabri shire.
“Anyone can have a go,” Karen said. “You will meet so many caring people and make new friends.
“You will have fun, and most importantly, you will make a difference in someone’s life.
“The value I personally received from the breast care nurses can’t be overstated,” Karen said.
If you would like to get involved in Pink Up Namoi, you can contact Karen directly on 0428 944 500.
McGrath Foundation ambassador and director Tracy Bevan said after the toll of 2020, it was vital to get back out into local communities.
“Pink Up Your Town is such a fun initiative to get involved with and you can do so knowing you really are making an impact,” she said.
“Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, so our McGrath breast care nurses are needed more than ever.
“It is through the support of communities around Australia that we’re able to continue funding McGrath breast care nurses in areas that need them most.”
Now in its sixth year, more than 152 towns have taken part in Pink Up Your Town during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, helping raise over $1.7 million.
In the past, towns and suburbs have shown their support in many creative ways, from Orange re-naming itself ‘Pink’ as an April Fool’s prank to gala balls, pink race days and main street shops competing for the pinkest window displays.
“Local champions who pink up in towns across the country will receive plenty of support from the McGrath Foundation’s team to inspire their neighbours, businesses, schools and community groups to take on the fundraising challenge,” Tracy said.
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