Beloved Kiwi TV personality, author and documentary producer Jude Dobson is inviting the people of Bay of Plenty to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast next month to support Kiwis affected by breast cancer.

Having been a Breast Cancer Foundation NZ Ambassador for well over a decade, Jude shared why the cause means so much to her. “

I was a registered nurse as my first career, so I’ve always been interested in health and wellness, and progress in medical science.

“I became particularly aware of breast cancer when I discovered a lump about 25 years ago and my mind raced to the worst-case scenario, with a baby and preschooler at the time.

“The lump thankfully turned out to be benign, but going through the process of getting it checked got my attention and I have been having annual mammograms ever since.”

Dobson said watching a close relative go through chemo and a double mastectomy a few years ago brought the issue much closer to home. “Nobody wants to hear the cancer word, so I support the foundation in their quest to make sure no woman loses their life to breast cancer.”

Each May, thousands of Kiwis around the country host Pink Ribbon Breakfast events to raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

The charity is hoping to top last year’s total of more than 420 get-togethers across the Bay of Plenty, where around 205 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually.

“We’re calling on people in Bay of Plenty to step up to the plate and do something amazing for Kiwis going through breast cancer,” said Breast Cancer Foundation NZ chief executive Ah-Leen Rayner.

“By hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast, you’re helping to bring us closer towards a future where no one has to die from breast cancer.

“As a charity that doesn’t receive any government funding, we desperately need your help to keep our life-saving programmes in research, education and patient support running.”

Pink Ribbon Breakfast Day is May 22, but events can be held any time during May or June. Once registered, people will be sent a free host kit with ideas and resources to get them started.

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