October is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” and the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation (CIBCF) is holding a number of events to raise funds and awareness.

In a statement, the Foundation said they “are very fortunate to have the following activities in place with our major contributors who have supported us for many years, raising funds to bring our women from the Southern Group Islands to Rarotonga for their mammogram screening”.

“Now we need to fill the CIBCF coffers so we can continue to do this for many more years to come.”
CIBCF sponsored 29 women from five outer islands for their mammogram screen held recently.

“The programme was very successful thank you to all who played a part in this year’s programme,” the statement said.

On Friday, October 21, CIBCF will hold the “Pink Ribbon Day Appeal”.

This special day is where traditionally local businesses dress their premises in pink, wear pink on this day and the community at large get involved wearing pink for the day.

“It’s a day where we remember those who have passed away from breast cancer, a day to be thankful you had your mammo screen and are clear, a day to be conscious of being breast healthy by doing your SBE (Self-Breast Examination),” the statement said.

The Foundation put in a lot of time organising October activities and they are grateful this does not go unnoticed, the statement adds.

“The TMO Health Promotion Unit in Tupapa are supporting us by hanging our pink Breast Cancer Awareness banner in Avarua 17^th – 31^st October.

“There was a very successful mammography screening program held by Te Marae Ora with the support of CIBCF in August and September, which saw 809 women screened.

“And we were grateful once again that the NSW team led by Dr Fran Jones, was again able to come to do all the important work. These radiographers, sonographer and doctors take their annual leave to come for this programme and we are very grateful to them.”