Breast cancer is Australia’s second-most commonly diagnosed cancer, and it is estimated, by Cancer Australia, that 21,194 people were diagnosed in 2024.
How common the disease was dawned on local resident Kelly Hebbard after she spoke with community members in her craft group.
“We were just talking, one night, and I just realised how many women are actually touched by the disease,” Ms Hebbard said.
“I just thought, ‘let’s do a fundraiser, let’s give back and let’s do something’.
“I’m a little bit younger, but, you know, that could be me one day.”
Ms Hebbard joined forces with Merilee Dover to facilitate a fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, an organisation that envisions zero recorded deaths from the disease.
On Saturday, September 20, the pair hosted the event at Seymour coffee hotspot Cafe96.
The 60 or so all-women attendees were treated to a delicious high tea and a fashion parade, featuring some of the hidden gems of Seymour retailers, including Elsie & Florence, Shoppers Delight, JC Footwear and Floral Loves.
“We thought it would be a really nice, feminine sort of activity to do,” Ms Hebbard said.
“I’m a big community person, so any way I could involve other community businesses and community people, I thought would be good.
“We just tried to get as much community involvement and showcasing as possible.”
Aside from being a space of community connection, the event served as a valuable opportunity to raise funds for the prevention organisation.
Through a silent auction and raffle, with prizes donated from local businesses and community members, $3785.75 was raised by attendees.
Ms Hebbard said she thought the overwhelming support shown was a result of the prevalence of the disease.
“We never even advertised the event because we sold all the tickets in the first four days,” she said.
“I could tell straight away, when tickets started selling, that it was because they’d been touched by it themselves, or they would have had friends that were.
“People want to get behind something that they’ve been touched by themselves, and so many people are touched by the disease.”
She added that she was astounded by the generosity displayed by local people.
“Everyone was so generous. It was a really great day,” Ms Hebbard said.
“The community that I live in is just amazing, and I’ll tear up if I talk about it, but it’s just such a great place to live — people are just amazing here.”
“I was just really proud of my community that day and proud of what we do here — we get together and we support each other.”
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