A woman from Tauranga has hosted a Pink Ribbon Breakfast in celebration of life and the journey she's traversed since being diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2020.

She's now encouraging others in the Bay of Plenty to host their own Pink Ribbon Breakfast in support of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

Michelle Manderson had just been through a separation and was facing life as a solo parent when she discovered a lump in her breast.

She had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy before a breast cancer diagnosis was confirmed, then underwent a partial mastectomy.

'The last four years have been crazy, going through a divorce and breast cancer, with two years of Covid-19 and lockdowns! I hosted a Pink Ribbon Breakfast to celebrate life, love and health while raising money to help others,” says Michelle.

'I am grateful to friends and family who've supported me emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually throughout this entire journey. I'm also grateful for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, who helped by providing funding for counselling, physiotherapy and lymphoedema treatments. I love having the opportunity to give back and support them.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for New Zealand women, with around 190 women in the Bay of Plenty DHB area diagnosed with it annually.

Pink Ribbon Breakfast is Breast Cancer Foundation NZ's biggest fundraising campaign, where each May, thousands of Kiwis get together to do good in their communities.

The money raised goes towards ground-breaking research, education and awareness programmes, and patient support services.

But the Foundation is facing a 50 per cent drop in Pink Ribbon Breakfast registrations on last year – a huge blow after two years of Covid-19 crushing their fundraising efforts.

The charity desperately needs to increase registrations to hit its $2 million fundraising target.

'In this third year of the pandemic, we know people are facing really tough times, but every Pink Ribbon Breakfast – no matter how small or simple – will make a massive difference for Kiwi women with breast cancer,” says Ah-Leen Rayner, chief executive of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.

'The funds raised will help us to restore and transform breast screening in New Zealand. We want women to get diagnosed more easily and quickly, which will greatly improve their survival chances.”

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ receives no Government funding, so the support of the New Zealand public is vital for running all of the charity's life-saving programmes.

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