The support of a McGrath Breast Care nurse to cancer survivor Karen Kirkby, of Narrabri, has gained national attention during the Pink Test in Sydney.
Dr Kirkby served as an ambassador for the McGrath Foundation’s Breast Care nurse program, addressing state and national journalists about the special role her nurse, Margie Collins, played during her cancer treatment and recovery.
The interviews were conducted with programmes across Fox Sports, Channel 7, 9 and 10 and the ABC.
Dr Kirkby’s experience with the Breast Care Nurse program was also the subject of a newspaper article with the Sydney Morning Herald last week
“Each of the interviews was to show the impact the nurses had on my recovery, and on my family,” Dr Kirkby said.
“I outlined what Margie Collins [Karen’s first Breast Care nurse] did for myself, my husband Mark and my son Kirk.”
While sharing the important story of her experience with the foundation, Dr Kirkby also encouraged people to rally around the cause.
“I encouraged people to buy as many pink seats as possible,” Dr Kirkby said.
It was an action-packed few days of pink activities for Dr Kirkby who was also in attendance at a pink high tea alongside the Prime Minister, federal Opposition Leader and NSW Premier.
“It was great to see there was bi-partisan support for the McGrath Foundation,” Dr Kirkby said.
Other involvements included pinking up the Ritchies at the Paddington RSL and joining the last leg of the long walk to the SCG.
A group of people walked from Newcastle to Sydney for the Pink Test. Similarly, a man also walked from Melbourne to Sydney for the same cause.
Dr Kirkby joined the last kilometre of the walk.
While at the SCG, Dr Kirkby was part of a sideline interview and she admitted seeing her face on the SCG’s big screens was a daunting experience.
Dr Kirkby, the brainchild of the Pink Up Namoi campaign which started in 2021, had been invited to last year’s Pink Test, however, did not attend due to the COVID pandemic.
She was invited to be part of this year’s pink cricket festivities and embraced the opportunity to generate more awareness about the McGrath Foundation and its Breast Care Nurse program.
“It was a phenomenal experience,” she said.
“Tracy Bevan and Glenn McGrath are both very grateful for the money raised by Pink Up Namoi.”
The first year of the local Pink Up campaign was a tremendous success, with events across the shire and donations amounting to more than $106,000.
Part of the festivities were organised in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Narrabri and the Narrabri and District Chamber of
Commerce.
The campaign returned in its second year in 2022 with a Pink Night Under the Stars, held with the Rotaract Club of Narrabri and the Narrabri Industrial Network, raising in excess of $35,000 on the night.
The inaugural campaign was such a success that McGrath Foundation director and ambassador Tracy Bevan made it her mission to come to Narrabri and personally thank the communities which donated so generously for the Breast Care Nurse program.
While the SCG experience is something Dr Kirkby will cherish for the rest of her life, she was relieved to return to her family at their Narrabri property.
“I was really honoured and privileged to be an ambassador,” Dr Kirkby said.
Dr Kirkby said she was overcome with emotion in the final days as the experience saw her relive what the Breast Care nurses did for her in what was an incredibly tough time.
“But I am pleased I went. It left me with some amazing memories,” Dr Kirkby said of the experience.
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