This past weekend the Scrubba Body Crew attended the Knockers and Moles fundraiser event help by the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation and the Hunter Melanoma Foundation. It was such a blast! Hosted by the sexiest drag queens in the business, Timberlina, Foxxe Faux and Abork. There was great food, drinks and games. This amazing night was organised by Abbey McDonell from Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation and her awesome team. Earlier in the week Abbey answered some questions about HBCF, have a read and feel free to donate via the link at the bottom of the page.

What is the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation and what do they do?

Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation (HBCF) is a small grassroots not-for-profit organisation locally based in Kotara, raising much needed funds to provide information and practical supportive care services to local breast cancer patients and their families. The foundation is unique as all monies raised are used to support women, men and their families of the Newcastle and Hunter region only, we are Hunter people helping Hunter people. HBCF is completely independent and 100% funded by our local community. HBCF provides everything from a Wig & Headwear Library to private transport to breast cancer related medical appointments, house cleaning or lawn maintenance during active treatment, a wellness hub including mindfulness and exercise programs, children’s cancer books and educational scholarships, comfort cushions for post-surgery and prosthesis financial support + more.

How did you get involved and what do you do there?

Once I heard about Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, what they did and their minimal resourcing through previous General Manager and ex-work colleague (Ellie Wells) within another NFP organisation, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of. I’m extremely passionate about helping others, especially our local community. After witnessing so many loved ones affected by this horrible disease, I wanted to do my part in assisting local families in a practical, hands-on way. HBCF is a small team of 2 full-time staff members and 1 part time, so we have the opportunity and flexibility to wear many hats, from managing operations, coordinating support services, organising events, applying for grant funding, connecting, and training our wonderful Pink Army Volunteers, forming corporate partnerships, running campaigns to encourage our community to get involved + more. As soon as I came on board, I knew it was the right fit. After just over 2.5 years I have now stepped into the General Management position, and I couldn’t be happier to know that only a daily basis I get to help our community, this isn’t just a job for me it’s my life and the HBCF team work hard everyday to ensure no family is left without the support they need.

How can our readers help?

HBCF strongly encourage our community to get involved in assisting our local breast cancer families get the support they need by donating when possible or on a regular basis; volunteering to assist with HBCF’s signature events, wig & headwear library and transporting clients to medical appointments; attending HBCF events and community fundraisers or getting involved in creating their own fundraising activities. Coming up soon is October Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year we are encouraging the community to help us ‘Paint the Town Pink’ this could be anything from decorating your business or home in pink, pledging to wear pink for the month or focusing on an exercise challenge while raising funds online, hosting a morning tea or BBQ or even purchasing merchandise from our online shop – fundraising is FUN and it can really be anything you want it to be, as simple or as extravagant as you’d like! We encourage the community like our Facebook page and share content with their network, sign up to our emails to keep up to date with our upcoming events and monthly e-newsletter – or you can check out our website to see what’s coming up.

 Check them out here!