- Two hundred women gathered at Manly Beach on 31 October for Pink With Purpose, raising $35,000 for Breast Cancer Trials through an event featuring sunrise Pilates, a 3.4km walk, and a nutritious pink-themed breakfast.
- The event was organised in just four weeks by co-founders Emily White, Anna Brain, and Zoe Brain, whose respective businesses — ZYLA Active and Brain of a Dietitian — donated activewear and nutritional expertise to bring the day to life.
- Highlights included 200 participants forming a giant human heart captured by aerial drone, and an oversized butterfly-wing installation symbolising strength, resilience, and hope for those affected by breast cancer.
- The event attracted national media coverage across SBS, Channel 7, and Channel 10, amplifying the breast cancer awareness message beyond Manly Beach.
- The founders are already planning Pink With Purpose 2027, with ambitions to double attendance to 400 women, raise at least $70,000, and potentially pursue a Guinness World Records attempt for the largest pink human-heart formation.
Manly Beach became a sea of pink on Saturday 31st October as 200 women came together for Pink With Purpose, raising an extraordinary $35,000 for Breast Cancer Trials. The event celebrated movement, nutrition, friendship, and the power of women supporting women.
The event was created in just four weeks by Pink With Purpose co-founders Emily White (25), Anna Brain (25) and Zoe Brain (27). Emily founded activewear brand ZYLA Active, while sisters Anna and Zoe founded Brain of a Dietitian. They rallied sponsors, volunteers and businesses to turn an ambitious idea into reality.
A spectacular sea of pink
The morning began with sunrise meditation and Pilates on the sand beneath an orange-pink sky. Two hundred women wearing matching pink ZYLA Active sports bras then formed an enormous human heart, captured in spectacular aerial drone imagery. The heart symbolised love, solidarity and hope for everyone affected by breast cancer.
Participants continued with a 3.4km walk along Manly Beach before gathering at Bombora Pavilion, Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club, for a beautifully curated, nutritious pink-themed breakfast created by Brain of a Dietitian. Anna and Zoe brought their food and nutrition expertise to the table, serving delicious, nourishing food in shades of pink, a thoughtful visual connection to breast cancer awareness.
An oversized butterfly-wing banner offered another deeply meaningful moment. Women stood between the wings for photographs, symbolically embracing strength, resilience and hope. The installation honoured those who have faced breast cancer, those still fighting, and future generations the community hopes to protect through research. It also recognised the event’s generous supporters and gave participants a lasting memory of the day. The inspiring scenes attracted coverage across SBS, Channel 7 and Channel 10, carrying the message of Pink With Purpose beyond Manly Beach.
Three founders, one shared purpose
Emily made a significant contribution through ZYLA Active’s donation of pink activewear, bringing women together in matching sports bras and transforming the beach into a striking display of pink, the internationally recognised colour of breast cancer awareness. Anna and Zoe, through Brain of a Dietitian, donated their expertise and the nutritious pink breakfast, extending the theme from movement into food and wellbeing.
The founders kept the real purpose front and centre: supporting Breast Cancer Trials. The morning was filled with laughter, hugs, heartfelt stories and a remarkable sense of connection.
“To think that just four weeks ago this was simply an idea, and then to stand on Manly Beach surrounded by 200 women in pink, was almost impossible to put into words,” said Emily White, founder of ZYLA Active. “Seeing that giant heart from above and knowing we’d raised $35,000 showed what can happen when women and businesses come together with a shared purpose.”
A lasting legacy: Get Balanced
For Emily White, Anna Brain and Zoe Brain, Pink With Purpose was an opportunity to use their businesses to give back, bring women together and make a meaningful difference in the fight against breast cancer.
The trio are also the founders of Get Balanced, a wellness and lifestyle community combining ZYLA Active and Brain of a Dietitian, encouraging women to embrace balance in body, mind and life.
Built around the belief that balance isn’t about perfection or restriction, but creating a lifestyle you genuinely enjoy, Get Balanced brings women together through movement, nutrition, wellness experiences and retreats.
Pink With Purpose was a beautiful reflection of their philosophy, proving that businesses can be a powerful force for good.
Supporting Breast Cancer Trials, and dreaming bigger
The $35,000 raised will support Breast Cancer Trials and its vital clinical trials research, helping improve the prevention, treatment and outcomes of breast cancer. For the three founders, knowing their community could contribute to research that changes lives was the greatest achievement of the day.
And they are already dreaming bigger for Pink With Purpose 2027: aiming to double the number of women to 400, raise at least $70,000 for Breast Cancer Trials, and explore involving Guinness World Records in an even larger pink human-heart formation - this first event is only the beginning.
About us:
Pink With Purpose is a fundraising initiative by ZYLA Active and Brain of a Dietitian. Its inaugural event on Manly Beach on 31 October 2026 raised $35,000 for Breast Cancer Trials.
ZYLA Active is an Australian women’s activewear brand founded by Emily White, built around movement, confidence and connection. www.zylaactive.com.au
Brain of a Dietitian, founded by Anna and Zoe Brain, brings nutrition, wholesome food and wellbeing together to make healthy living more enjoyable and approachable. www.brainofadietitian.com
Breast Cancer Trials supports clinical trials research to improve outcomes for people affected by breast cancer. www.breastcancertrials.org.au
Contact details:
Emily White
Founder, ZYLA Active; Co-founder, Pink With Purpose
M: 0412 768 182
