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A life-saving ladies’ get-together

Monday 9 September, 2019

 

Jennifer (right) with her friend Maria, who was a "huge support" during and since her treatment.

For Jennifer, cancer has been a relentless part of life. That’s why she’s passionate about spreading awareness among her girlfriends with Girls’ Night In.

When the 54-year-old mother felt a strange lump in her breast, she decided to take action right away – and it was lucky she did.

“I was lying down in bed reading a book, and I had an itch. I scratched it and thought it felt a bit strange, so I investigated it further.

“That sort of put me on the road I’ve been travelling for the last 9 years. I went to the doctor the next day, and pretty much all hell broke loose after that you could say,” said Jennifer.

She underwent surgery that week, beginning three months of gruelling treatment including chemotherapy and radiation.

Still, Jennifer considers herself lucky to be alive today, and has found hope in hosting Girls’ Night In.

Her first fundraiser was a simple catch up at home, and her second was a larger event.

The second Girls’ Night In – held in Jennifer’s retail store – was opened up to her local community rather than just close friends and family.

“Everybody who came along donated, and I organised some raffles too,” said Jennifer.

But she believes that your event doesn’t need to be large to have a big impact.

“I think having had breast cancer, the Girls’ Night In appealed because it is an opportunity to tell other women to check their breasts.

“Getting that word out is so important – to get checked, have your cervical screening test, do the colonoscopy, do all those things – because it will save your life.”

Jennifer says no amount is too small when fundraising for Girls’ Night In among other passionate supporters.

“You have to think of it as a collective. The past events I’ve had, even the one I did at the shop, it didn’t raise a huge amount of money – a few hundred dollars in the end.

“It all helps, and sure, our little piece of it might not feel like it does much, but it all contributes to the bigger pot,” she said.

Jennifer says it’s a nice feeling knowing that she’s played a part in something bigger.

“Every bit of money that you can raise goes somewhere, such as funding for a research project.

“There’s always that little bit of hope that all of our efforts put together will someday find a really big breakthrough.”

Thanks in part to Girls’ Night In supporters, Australia is set to be the first country to eliminate cervical cancer – what fantastic news for all women!

Life-saving cancer research has enabled researchers to develop Australia’s world-first HPV vaccine and our new national screening program which can eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2035.

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