October is International Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation (CIBCF) has been out and about for many years in Rarotonga raising awareness of breast cancer and its effects on women and the community.

This year will be no different.

The business sector has played a huge role in supporting CIBCF’s fundraising efforts. We are fortunate they have, and that they will do so again.

ANZ Bank will be holding their annual sausage sizzle on Friday, October 13. This fundraiser will be designated as our “Pink Ribbon Day Appeal”. This is the day we encourage everyone to dress in pink, pop a pink ribbon on and remember those who are no longer with us due to breast cancer taking their lives, and those who are or have suffered from breast cancer.

BSP Bank will do their annual sausage sizzle on Friday, October 20.

The CIBCF Gals will be at both the ANZ and BSP banks with our table of ribbons, t/shirts, and other merchandise for you to join us and help support our fundraising efforts.

The Gals and Guys will be at Punanga Nui Market every Saturday during October, with all the goodies mentioned above as well as pamphlets on being breast healthy and information about breast cancer. Please look out for our Gals in pink and our pink banners, and table loaded with our printed t/shirts.

Vodafone Cook Islands, who has been a strong supporter of our awareness and fundraising efforts, are having a VodafonePINK Month Walk-a-thon/Aka’uka Event on Wednesday, October 25, at Terevete Park, starting at 5pm. This will involve participants walking towards town area, turning down the road leading to Cooks Corner/CIPS, down to Vodafone HQ, passing TAV towards Prime Foods/Vonnias and then back to Terevete Park ready for Aka’uka where they can shake it all off! There will be a $5 entry for walk/Aka’uka class. Spot prizes, which include Vodafone vouchers and merchandise, will be up for grabs. The theme for this fundraiser is “Decked in PINK”. Vodafone staff are making an extra effort by wearing pink on Fridays as well.

CITC Group, who is also a supporter, will have our pink ribbons and donation boxes in their stores island wide, so pick up a pink ribbon and show your support during October with our awareness and fundraising for breast cancer.

There are other businesses who will kindly pop our pink ribbons and donation boxes in their stores too, so look out for these and help our cause.

The funds raised are to pay for and bring our women from the Southern Group Islands for their mammography screening and return them home safely.

Also, we look forward to the Mammography Screening Programme returning in 2024.

• CIBCF Media Release