Tickled pink with turnout for Clothing Sale
By Cynthia Daly
Clothing bargain-hunters filled Whitianga Rugby Clubrooms on Saturday morning in search of a great buy and they certainly weren’t disappointed with everything from emu leather boots to designer fashion up for grabs, and all for a worthy cause, Project Mammogram.
In just 90 minutes the Clothing Sale raised $680 for the project, much to the delight of organiser, Carly Allen of Infinite Fitness and the Mercury Bay and Whitianga Lions Clubs.
Six-month-old Molly was noticeably the youngest stallholder present with an array of outgrown baby clothes she was recycling for a new summer wardrobe with the assistance of mum, Bex.
Bex, an active member of Infinite Fitness, says as well as supporting Molly’s new wardrobe, she came along to support the community appeal for its own permanent mammogram unit.
Project Mammogram chairman, Mike Brown says after various Covid interruptions it was great to be back in the community again, “We certainly had a lot of fun, and at the same time, when we were talking about the money raised going to Project Mammogram and the 3D machine, it was good to hear the positivity of the women in the community about this project. We had a lot of good comments and a lot of good banter, and from a Lions point of view we’d like to thank Infinite Fitness and Carly for putting it on.”
Mike says the goal is to raise $350,000 in two years to purchase a gold-star 3D mammogram x-ray machine for this region. “Our objective is early detection for better outcomes.”
Currently most New Zealand mammograms are carried out using a 2D imaging machine which, while still detecting breast cancer, is much less effective, especially when dealing with breast density levels.
The new 3D mammography procedure, True 3D Breast Tomosynthesis signifies a quantum leap in mammography and increases early detection by 43% against a 2D mammography. With tomosynthesis, 3D high quality images will improve accuracy regardless of breast size or tissue density.
Mike says: “The 3D mammogram machine was first developed in 2014 and since then it has had a lot of software iterations which has made it much more accurate than it was in 2014. When our machine arrives it will have the very latest technology.”
Keep an eye out for our next article where the information on breast density will really surprise you. And if you would like to support Project Mammogram come and see the Whitianga Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, 3 December at 7.00pm. The Mercury Bay Lions will also be running a Christmas raffle in December.