That is the message from the 14th annual Pink Ribbon Breakfast in Palmerston.
The community event turned Palmerston Sports Hall pink last Friday and raised more than $12,700 for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ in the process, with potential for more donations to come this week, co-ordinator Heather McGregor said following the event.
Fellow co-ordinator Sonya Watson said the breakfast had gone from strength to strength, with about 100 people — dressed in pink — showing up this year.
"Everyone is affected," she said.
This was the reason that Ms McGregor started the breakfast as there were "quite a few friends that had been diagnosed" in the community.
Breast Cancer Foundation NZ’s national breast health educator Debra Leutenegger was the guest speaker.
Only 70% of eligible women were getting checked and she wanted to get the message out there.
Attendees got their hands on bags with sponsored goodies and there was a morning tea, raffles and an auction.
Donations can be made at fundraise.bcf.org.nz/fundraisers/heathermcgregor
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among New Zealand women.
One in 10 women will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime and 650 women die from the disease every year.
