Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand could miss out on around $60 000 of donations, due to a lack of registrations for their Pink Ribbon Breakfast fundraising campaign. 

Registrations to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast, the charitable organisation's largest annual fundraiser, have now been extended until mid-June, with Southlanders urged to take part. 

Chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner says that the number of breakfast events being hosted this year has dropped by a third, and the charity is concerned that the shortfall could impact their services. 

“In our third year of the pandemic, and with an under-resourced health system, breast cancer patients are really feeling the effects. Since Covid-19, the demand on our support services has increased significantly,” says Rayner.

“Our specialist breast care nurses, who provide free tailored advice to thousands of women, are stretched to the limit, with four times as many calls coming in to our 0800-support line.” 

“We'll always be there for patients, but if we can't meet our fundraising target, it will limit the impact we can have. So please, sign up to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast to help make a difference for women going through breast cancer.”

Pink Ribbon Breakfast historically involved tens of thousands of participants, with events raising funds for the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. 

The events can be hosted anywhere, at any time, and extended registrations will now close on 17 June.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for New Zealand women, with around 240 in the Southern DHB area diagnosed with it annually. 

The money raised from every Pink Ribbon Breakfast goes towards ground-breaking research, awareness and education programmes, and patient support services.

For more information and to register to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast, visit www.pinkribbonbreakfast.co.nz