Region gets behind annual appeal
Becky Scott is in the pink following an annual fundraising drive in South Canterbury.
For the past 14 years she has volunteered for the Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand (BCFNZ), and for the past four she has co-ordinated its annual Pink Ribbon Appeal in South Canterbury.
That happened again on Friday and Saturday when the region got behind the cause, dressing in pink and donating money.
While Scott won’t know how much was raised for a few weeks, she was pleased by the ‘‘sea of pink’’ she had seen around town on Friday.
‘‘It was really nice to see,’’ Scott said.
‘‘There was pink everywhere and lots of smiles from everyone.’’
She said the appeal was a cause ‘‘lots of people got behind’’.
She said her Friday had been a busy one, beginning at 7.30am and working through until 7.30pm, restocking buckets and keeping an eye on things.
Last year $4000 was raised in Timaru.
An employee at the Timaru District Council, Scott’s own workplace had also been supportive.
‘‘The council alone raised $772 which is really impressive for a workplace,’’ she said.
She was already looking to next year’s event, and she was keen to hear from anyone who wanted to get involved, such as hosting a mufti day to raise money.
Towns throughout South Canterbury had supported this year’s appeal, with Geraldine, Temuka, Fairlie and Pleasant Point residents also taking part.
‘‘It’s a large geographical area to cover,’’ she said.
Scott’s inspiration to volunteer for the appeal comes from her great-grandmother Jessie Kearns who passed away from breast cancer when she was in her early 50s.
Although she never got the chance to meet her Scott said it was through stories from her grandmother that the passion to volunteer for the cause was ignited.