30/04/2024
This year’s national Pink Bun campaign by Bakers Delight has a poignant message, highlighted by regional Victorian Kansas Martens, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 24 years of age.
It was Breast Cancer Network Australia’s (BCNA) Pink Lady Match that reminded Kansas to book in with her GP. “In 2021, I had done a self-check and found a small lump in my upper left breast but had then gotten busy so just put it off – I thought that at 24 it couldn't be major,” Kansas said. “BCNA had the Pink Lady Match and hearing the stories of other people affected by breast cancer prompted me to get that lump checked.”
A subsequent phone call from her GP confirmed Kansas’ worst fears, a breast cancer diagnosis.
“After the doctor told me and I was like, ‘She's going to call back, she's going to be like, wrong person - we mixed up your results’,” said Kansas. “And that is not what happened.”
Kansas drove from Gippsland to be a face in the national campaign, which shines a spotlight on the many types of support required when a person receives a breast cancer diagnosis. She relied on BCNA’s website resources including the My Journey app to keep on top of her treatment.
“The My Journey app helped me keep track of a lot of things, from diagnosis to appointments to side effects,” Kansas said. “It’s not a community I thought I would be a part of – and not at 24 – but I'm really thankful that it was there.”
While Kansas said she had to put on a facade with family and friends at times, she felt as though going to BCNA events allowed her to feel like a cancer patient. “I'm around these people and they are always saying, ‘it's okay to not be okay’ because they've seen people with breast cancer or have survived it themselves,” she said. “That was important to help my process and get through my journey.”
The 2024 Bakers Delight Pink Bun campaign highlights the support network around each Australian with a breast cancer diagnosis through the personal stories of three of our valued BCNA members from across the country, who each speak to their own lived experience.
The faces behind this year's campaign – Kansas, Sam, and Jill – arrived from different parts of the country to share and shine a light on how BCNA and its staff have supported each of them through their respective breast cancer experiences.
Sam from Canberra is a mum of five and was diagnosed at 39. Sam contacted our free Helpline to share a very confronting experience when she went through airport screening with a breast prosthesis. BCNA subsequently advocated on her behalf for better training of airport staff in these circumstances, allowing Sam’s experience to help inform BCNA’s advocacy for change.
Jill from Perth was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in her early 50s. Jill is just one of our members to have benefitted from BCNA’s advocacy work, as her medication is now subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). BCNA advocated to the government for this drug to be listed.
“For many, BCNA is that beacon in a very dark time, and a big part of what we do is around awareness and connection and bringing people together,” said BCNA CEO Kirsten Pilatti. “During Pink Bun we see a very small bun make a very big difference for so many people, and with 100% of sales donated directly to BCNA we can genuinely affect change.”
Bakers Delight Joint CEO, Elise Gillespie said the Pink Bun campaign was something she and franchisees around the country looked forward to each year. “This campaign wouldn’t be a success without the generosity and enthusiasm of our franchisees and it’s incredible to see our bakeries turn pink for this special campaign. This year’s campaign theme really focusses on helping BCNA support every Australian affected by breast cancer, so we would encourage customers across Australia to come into their local bakery not only to buy Fun Buns, but to share their own personal stories and connection with breast cancer. It really reinforces why we do this campaign and what it means to our franchisees and local community members.”
Kansas said the Pink Bun campaign is special for people diagnosed with breast cancer. “I'm very grateful for Pink Bun, because without that, I don't know if my outcome would be the same today,” said Kansas. “This May, get a round of Fun Buns at Bakers Delight to get around BCNA and all those affected by breast cancer.”
So, how can you support this year’s campaign?
With 100% of Fun Bun sales going to BCNA, it’s easy to show your support for our organisation and for those in your community affected by breast cancer. Simply purchase Fun Buns from your local Bakers Delight May 9 - 29 and take them home to enjoy!
You can also sign-up for a Pink Bun Party. Get your friends, workmates, or family together and pink your way throughout May, with registrations open at pinkbunparties.com
“Our hope at BCNA is that you’ll get around the Bakers Delight Pink Bun campaign in the same way we get around our network and those we serve,” said BCNA CEO Kirsten Pilatti.
Media Contact: ________________________________________________________________________
Rachael Stewart | Media and Communications Manager | 03 9805 2540| media@bcna.org.au
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About us:
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is the peak national organisation for Australians affected by breast cancer, and consists of a network of more than 175,000 individual members. BCNA supports, informs, represents and connects Australians affected by breast cancer and works to ensure that all Australians affected by breast cancer receive the very best care, treatment and support appropriate to their individual needs.
