By Meg Purser

In the past 12 months just over 500 people have received a comfort cushion after undergoing breast cancer surgery.

More than 50 volunteers in the Hunter are working together to make sure that patients get to and from their breast cancer treatment at hospitals.

There are about five local families this week that are provided with professional house cleaning and yard maintenance services.

And a number of young people who have lost their mum’s to breast cancer have received a scholarship to help them through their education.

This is the work of the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation.

The Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation does not undertake research, it does not employ doctors or nurses and it does not provide counselling for breast cancer patients. But it does work with these organisations locally and nationally to ensure that local families have access to the right services and the right information.

The Foundation is a volunteer organisation headed up by a volunteer board that works purely to support and help people through treatment for breast cancer.

It was established just over 10 years ago by Virginia Rigby and her husband Milton. After going through the devastation of breast cancer they felt that there were some opportunities for people to help others.

Today the Foundation is part of a hard working alliance of organisations and committees that is finding ways to work together to make sure that local people are best supported. The Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation exists because our community believes that the grass root support of local people is as important as we think it is.

The work of the Foundation’s dedicated volunteer groups on the Tomaree Peninsular, Singleton and across the greater Newcastle areas together with the efforts of committees of nurses, medical staff and breast cancer professionals is helping the Foundation to find the people that most need assistance. The Foundation’s Board members are in awe of the contribution made by the professionals and the volunteers.

Each year the majority of the funds needed are raised in October and the support comes in many ways. From a lady who donates 30% of the price of her fabulous jewellery sold, to the men of league in the Hunter’s golf day, garden parties, car washes, the support of local Clubs and of course the Peterson House Bubbly Breakfast and the support of The Herald. The Foundation is so pleased and humbled by this generosity.

Patients can undergo literally months of medical treatment. The medical profession is working hard to improve life expectancy while family and friends are moving heaven and earth to support them through lengthy and exhausting treatment. We hope that our contribution helps these people and their families through this most testing of times.