At Monday’s meeting, we welcomed guests from the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation – Chairperson Justine Smyth, CEO Ah-Leen Raynor, and Philanthropy Manager Georgia Woodhouse. Club member Jenn Wong acted as our MC and led the group panel discussion.

Each panel member shared their personal motivations for being involved in the Foundation: for Justine, it is work “dear to her heart that fills her cup”; Ah-Leen spoke of the privilege of leading an incredible team of women dedicated to making a difference; and Georgia, who joined the Foundation 18 months ago, described her commitment to driving change after losing all of her grandparents to cancer.

The Foundation’s mission is ambitious and inspiring – zero deaths from breast cancer. While annual deaths have reduced over the past 25 years, around 650 New Zealand women still die from the disease each year. Recent progress includes extending the age for funded mammogram screening to 74, and an upcoming clinical trial of a blood test that could enable earlier detection of breast and other cancers. They are also piloting an innovative programme to support women on hormone therapy, which can halve the chance of recurrence but is often discontinued due to side effects. The team also highlighted ongoing challenges such as global shortages of radiologists and pathologists, and the fact that breast cancer often presents earlier and more aggressively in Māori and Pacific women.

The Foundation receives no government funding, relying instead on fundraising, corporate partnerships, grants, bequests, and major annual events such as the October Pink Ribbon Walks in Auckland and Christchurch.

The Foundation is highly collaborative, data-driven, and active in research and advocacy. They are making a powerful impact in advancing treatment, supporting patients, and working towards their ultimate goal of ending breast cancer deaths in New Zealand.

Thanks to a successful raffle, a buy-the-box session and a donation from the East Coast Bays Rotary Charitable Trust, club president Kerry-Anne was able to pledge a donation of nearly $2000 to the foundation.