By Jena Carr
Give LOVE shirts are helping improve Geelong’s cancer services and raise awareness leading up to Mother’s Day.
The Barwon Health Foundation and Ceres Life teamed up for the Give LOVE initiative to sell tees to help raise money for Barwon Health’s cancer services.
Geelong’s Nicole Riddle, 41, was diagnosed with breast cancer on January 15 after finding a small lump in her left breast and underwent a mastectomy, surgical removal of the breast, on February 7.
As a LOVE tees ambassador, with ex-AFLW Geelong Cats captain Renee Garing, Ms Riddle said she encouraged everyone to consider “giving love this Mother’s Day” on May 12.
“It’s been such a challenging year so far but the care and support I’ve been shown from Barwon Health and Andrew Love has been next level,” she said.
“Apart from finding a small lump, I didn’t have any other real warning signs at all, and then to find out there was so much cancer in the breast, it was a real shock for all of us.
“One in seven women are diagnosed with breast cancer and that’s a lot… So, I’m encouraging other people to check their breasts on the first of each month and to just to know their bodies.”
Barwon Health Foundation acting executive director Francis Trainor said proceeds from the LOVE tees would help purchase new medical equipment and assist in patient care and treatment.
“The love already shown by the community for this special collaboration has been truly overwhelming,” he said.
“In the past, we’ve designed and developed Love tees ourselves to support Barwon Health’s cancer services, and they’ve always been popular with clinicians and staff at Barwon Health.”
Visit the Ceres Life website to purchase a LOVE tee and support the Barwon Health Foundation.
