CANCER’S destructive nature is all too familiar for Michelle Qaqish, who has lost several relatives to the disease.
Her maternal grandmother died of breast cancer, paternal grandmother of bowel cancer, and her father-in-law of leukaemia.
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READ NOWShe has also seen her father Albert Cooper diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and subsequent bowel cancer, and her mother-in-law diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Mrs Qaqish held her first Pink Ribbon morning tea in 2008 raising a few hundred dollars for Cancer Council WA, and since then she has raised more than $10,000 for the charity.
Her recent morning tea, held in Joondalup on September 21, raised more than $6000 for women’s cancers.
Cancer Council WA recently named Mrs Qaqish its 2019 Pink Ambassador.
“I was so thrilled to be named the 2019 Pink Ambassador,” she said.
“To see so many people you love go through something so horrible such as cancer, you just want to do as much as you can.
“We were hoping to raise $5000 this year, and we smashed it by $1000, so I am very grateful to everyone who supported our recent event at Lake Joondalup Baptist College sport centre.”
Cancer Council WA’s fundraiser coordinator Pausha Steele urged other members of the community to hold a Pink Ribbon fundraiser during October to raise much needed funds and awareness for women’s cancers.
“Michelle and her team are truly inspirational and are vital in assisting Cancer Council WA in the quest to achieve a cancer free future,” she said.
“In the past four years, our amazing WA fundraisers have raised more than $1 million for women’s cancer.
“There are so many exciting ways you can fundraise during October to help support those touched by cancer, and all funds raised go towards vital research, support programs and education.”
The charity suggested fundraising ideas could include having a day at work or school when everyone wore pink, holding a pink breakfast at the office, hosting a lunch or barbecue with pink-themed food, or organising a pink-themed morning tea bake-off.
Visit www.pinkribbon.com.au.