Pink Ribbon brekkie remembers Sara
Sara Pugh died from breast cancer in the United States when she was just 28.
Her brother Jamie Weal and his wife Kristina, who were living in Auckland, felt so far away.
When they heard Pugh’s health was failing they were on the next flight to Connecticut but they were not able to be there when she died on March 13, 2014.
Kristina Weal is hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast this May to remember her sisterin-law, who leaves behind her husband and 3-year-old son.
‘‘As a mother this reality really freaked me out.
‘‘I wanted to do something because I felt so far away,’’ she says.
‘‘Then I saw a television advertisement for Pink Ribbon Breakfast and it was like the answer came to me and that was the right thing to do.’’
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation is inviting the public to host and take part in Pink Ribbon Breakfasts in May to help raise money for breast cancer research.
This includes drug development and research into genetic factors that contribute to the disease spreading.
Pugh, a former Waihi resident, was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal breast cancer at Christmas 2013.
This news came after she was given the all-clear earlier that year.
Weal and her friend Cathi White invited about people to the breakfast.
Pink Ribbon Breakfast guests are encouraged to wear pink, and the room will be dressed to theme with centrepieces and pink balloons. Countdown and The Mad Butcher have both made donations towards the costs of the food.
The foundation says 73
75 per cent of breast cancer patients in New Zealand are disease-free 10 years after diagnosis – but more than 600 women still die of the disease each year.
More than 2000 Pink Ribbon Breakfasts were held around the country in 2014. A total of 65,000 people went to them.
The nationwide
event raised $1 million for the nonprofit organisation.
Registrations are now open for anybody who wants to host a breakfast this May.