Power of Pink raises R400 000 for Reach for Recovery

The group accepted the R400 000 cheque at a breast cancer talk held at La Vie en Rose in Illovo.

Reach for Recovery has created ‘We Can I Can’ as the tagline of this year’s International Cancer Day, which takes place annually on 4 February to raise awareness of breast cancer. The funds raised will be used to purchase silicone prostheses to support hundreds of underprivileged women who have undergone a mastectomy.

As part of the fundraising last year, the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association partnered with Pick n Pay and Thermopac, a packaging company, to make sure that a certain percentage of the mushrooms sold at Pick n Pay last year went towards Reach for Recovery.

Speaking at the talk, Ross Richardson, chairperson of the association, said mushrooms are an ally in the fight against breast cancer. He explained that mushrooms work as a preventative measure against breast cancer. “Mushrooms suppress the stimulus of estrogen naturally,” he said.

“Mushrooms have health benefits with elements commonly found in meat and vegetables.”

National manager of Reach for Recovery, Stephanie van Deventer, said fundraising campaigns such as The Power of Pink allow Reach for Recovery to make silicone prostheses affordable to women in financial need.

“For us, it is so fulfilling to see the absolute joy on a woman’s face when a new prosthesis is fitted,” Van Deventer said.

Breast cancer survivor, Lita Jacobson advised both men and women to go for a mammogram at least once a year. “Breast cancer changed my life,” Jacobson said.

“You realise that some of the things that you used to waste time worrying about before really aren’t that important.”

She added that early detection is key as well as eating healthily and being active.

Details: www.reach4recovery.org.za