Tickled Pink in Hedland
Mark and Julie Bevan with Denise Moore
Now that's thinking pink!
This hot ticket event was held in honour of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and presided over by magnificently pink MC Brad Anderson.
Hedland’s All Seasons Hotel went pink recently when 150 ladies and gents frocked up in the name of breast cancer research for the Well Women’s Centre’s annual Pink Ribbon Breakfast on November 4.
This hot ticket event was held in honour of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and presided over by magnificently pink MC Brad Anderson.
It included a full breakfast, auctions and an array of donated prizes, with all moneys raised matched by BHP Billiton Iron Ore.
From haloes to tutus, the room was overwhelmingly pink and the winning costume went to Ms A Angel, aka Andrea, resplendent in fluffy pink wings and hi-vis work wear.
The ultimate highlight came as guest speakers, husband and wife team Julie and Mark Bevan, spoke about Julie’s journey with breast cancer.
Mrs Bevan was shocked to discover she had breast cancer in late 2009 after a visit to the Breast Screen van.
She and husband Mark had moved from remote Northern Territory to the Pilbara less than a year before, but weren’t about to leave Port Hedland.
“We never regretted the decision; Port Hedland must be one of the friendliest towns in Australia,” Mrs Bevan said.
During treatment, which involved frequent Perth trips, she kept working to get through the dark times.
“I didn’t want to become depressed and I didn’t want to get angry, because things happen,” she said.
For her, loneliness was the hardest part, because, ‘People can talk to you medically, but sometimes … there’s nobody to say just what you want to’.
Meeting people like local Denise Moore, last year’s guest speaker, helped.
Mark Bevan spoke movingly of their “recalibrated” pathway, saying it was just about being there rather than being selfish with your time.
Hedland’s Bonnie Matheson attended the breakfast and was touched by the courage of the couple.
“Often when someone we love is sick it’s hard to know how to support them, so hearing Mark’s perspective of his wife’s illness was powerful,” she said.
“He spoke about how an illness like breast cancer might take away some of your life choices, but you can always choose how you deal with the challenge, and their positive approach was certainly inspiring.”
According to government statistics, one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before age 85 and 30 per cent of women with breast cancer are from rural areas.
The event raised over $20, 000 and everyone is tickled pink.
Leanne Anderson with husband and MC Brad
Tags: entertainment, pilbaranews, Port Hedland
