Ash Bolt
Bell Park North Primary School was a sea of pink last Friday as it did its part to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Pupils and staff wore a splash of pink and the front of the school was decorated with a field of 200 pink ladies to celebrate ‘BPN Goes Pink’.
The day was originally scheduled for October 29, where it would coincide with the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but had to be pushed back a week.
The day also had special meaning for the school, as it was the sixth-year anniversary of staff member Kristen Thomas’ breast cancer diagnosis.
Ms Thomas, who has worked at the school for 11 years teaching grade one through to six and now serves as the school’s disability inclusion and welfare co-ordinator, has since successfully completed her treatment.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting Australian women, with an average of 55 people diagnosed and nine people losing their lives each day.
According to Breast Cancer Network Australia it is projected 20,030 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer across Australia in 2021.
The survival rate from breast cancer has risen from 74 per cent to 91 per cent since 1994 and the aim of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to continue funding research to reach zero deaths from breast cancer by 2030.
