Illawarra's largest 'pink ribbon' breakfast raises $2,800

Oct 26, 2006

About $2,800 was raised today (26 October) on behalf of the National Breast Cancer Foundation following the Illawarra's largest 'pink ribbon' breakfast held at the UniCentre and a morning tea at the Faculty of Informatics.

A 'full house'of 240 people attended the 'pink ribbon' breakfast which featured as one of the highlights a spur of the moment decision by auctioneer (Deputy Vice-Chancellor - Operations, Professor John Patterson) to auction what he humorously described as "the most valuable piece of real estate on campus" - the Vice-Chancellor's executive car spot.

For the next working week, the Vice-Chancellor is going to have to steer his car towards another parking space as the successful bidder for the "E1" spot, a Management Cadet with UniAdvice, now has her car cosily tucked alongside the Administration Building.

Courtney Butler paid $181 to win the right to take over the spot.

The 'Real Men Wear Pink' Breakfast was held at the University of Wollongong as part of an overall campaign to raise breast cancer awareness and help fund research.

It is expected that in Australia more than 13,000 women and 100 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, according to figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Cancer expert, Professor Don Iverson, spoke at the breakfast along with two breast cancer survivors, Dr Ann Ellacott and Ms Lisa Faulkner.

Breakfast organiser, Holly Tootell, from the Faculty of Informatics, said the UniCentre was ablaze with pink and she described the overall event as a huge success.

"And we plan to make next year's breakfast bigger still which might mean using a new venue," Holly said.