Applications are now invited from local community groups, volunteer organisations and health providers for seeding grants of up to $10,000 to improve community-based support for women with breast cancer in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia.
The grants are funded by the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign and administered by National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre*, and aim to improve access to health and support services.
Associate Professor Christine Giles, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre* General Manager, said women with breast cancer face a range of emotional, psychological, physical and practical challenges, which can be compounded by their rural, regional or remote location.
“A woman’s emotional wellbeing is as important as her physical wellbeing during treatment for breast cancer. Access to local support services can make it easier to cope with having breast cancer and can improve a woman’s quality of life throughout her treatment,” said A/Prof Giles.
“For the past five years, seeding grants funded by the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign have helped to launch community-based initiatives to provide women with ongoing access to information, support and services in their local area.
“We encourage local organisations and health care providers with innovative ideas to develop practical solutions to support women with breast cancer in their communities,” said A/Prof Giles.
Examples of past projects funded by the seeding grants include:
- The establishment of a peer support group for Indigenous women with breast cancer in Broome.
- The establishment of a local resource library in the Bega Valley to ensure women with breast cancer have access to the most up-to-date treatment information.
- The development of an exercise program to assist women who have had breast cancer surgery to reduce their risk of lymphoedema in the South-East region of South Australia.
More information about the seeding grants and the Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign is available at www.nbocc.org.au/pinkpony or by calling National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre* on 02 9357 9414. Applications close Wednesday 13 May 2009.
Over 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia each year. The Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Campaign is an international initiative which aims to address the disparities in care for women with breast cancer.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre* is funded by the Australian Government and works with consumers, health professionals, cancer organisations, researchers and governments to improve care and cancer control in breast and ovarian cancer.