ONE of the best feel-good social events of the year returns to Club Services Ipswich next week raising funds for the Ipswich Hospital Foundation during Breast Cancer month.
CSI hosts their annual Charity Trivia night and cocktail event on Tuesday, September 19 where patrons dress in pink to support the cause.
CSI General Manager Natalia Onoprichuk said the event launched in 2020 when one of the staff was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“In support of our co-worker we started planning a fundraising luncheon to raise money to assist her whilst she had time off work and began treatment,” Ms Onoprichuk said.
“During that year we reached out to the PA hospital and became involved with their Project Pink initiative for breast cancer month in October.
“The support from our community to attend the event was amazing and we were able to raise enough funds to assist both our co-worker and pass on to the PA hospital.”
Following the encouraging response from the community Ms Onoprichuk said CSI decided to run an annual fundraising luncheon for breast cancer awareness.
“We wanted to support local initiatives in the Ipswich area. In 2021 we organised for all proceeds from our fundraiser luncheon to go to the Ipswich Hospital foundation.
“All the funds raised from this helped contribute to West Moreton Health being able to purchase specialised equipment for breast cancer care.
“It was also a great opportunity to have guest speakers talk about the work that was being done at West Moreton Health and raise awareness on Breast Cancer.”
Now in the third year of the Go Pink initiative, CSI has partnered with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.
“Each year we aim to raise more and more funds for the foundation,” Ms Onoprichuk said.
“This year our goal is $5,000. We try to look at new and interesting ways to do this. This year we are also hosting a trivia night with a percentage of the funds going directly to our total goal.
“We are also selling message of support bras which people can purchase from our reception and place on our grass wall. We aim to see a sea of support messages from people and for people to read and be inspired by. We will also have pink ribbon style socks available for purchase.
“We have a fabulous ongoing relationship with the Ipswich Hospital Foundation and great support from CEO Scott Young.”
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held in October, provides an opportunity to reflect on breast cancer and its impact on those affected by the disease in the community.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer).
Survival rates continue to improve in Australia with 89 out of every 100 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer now surviving five or more years beyond diagnosis.
Trivia of Go Pink will be held in the Legends Sports Bar at Club Services Ipswich on September 19 from 6-8.30pm.
CSI General Manager Natalia Onoprichuk and Ipswich Hospital Foundation CEO Scott Young toast to a successful charity event. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
