The Think Pink Foundation is an independent, volunteer-based charity. It dedicates its efforts and the funds it raises to provide psychological, emotional, physical and practical support for anyone affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Our mission is to enable a better journey for breast cancer patients and their families at any stage of their journey – from initial diagnosis, through treatment and into survivorship.
As a two-time survivor of breast cancer, I have experienced the journey first hand and know the range of emotions and challenges a diagnosis can bring. Imagine the world as you know it, has just crashed down around you and you find yourself staring at your own mortality. You are in a state of shock and disbelief and are faced with the frightening thought of treatment which could include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
When you are undergoing treatment it’s hard to hold down a job. The bills continue to roll in and the struggle to live is compounded by the struggle to survive.
As the “helping hand” in our logo indicates, our mission is to provide practical support and to enable a better journey through breast cancer for patients and their families – all of whom are affected by the disease. Primarily, we do this through our state-of-the-art, independent and non-clinical facility called The Living Centre.
Since opening The Living Centre in 2010, we have been able to support thousands of women and men, many of whom are facing the most challenging time in their lives. We offer them our support and guidance, information and education and through our many unique programs and services, a chance to revitalise and restore themselves.
All of our services are provided totally free of charge, and we accept patients from any treatment centre and geographical location in Australia. I feel very fortunate and privileged to work with a wonderful team of health professionals and volunteers to help these women and men who are walking the same path that I have travelled.
When I think of how many people have come together and shown their commitment to our cause it is simply extraordinary and I realise that our Living Centre is truly a wondrous feat of human generosity.
Irene Hendel OAM
Director, Think Pink Foundation and Founder of The Living Centre
Why We Are Different
There are many different breast cancer charities and not-for-profit organisations associated with the breast cancer cause, each addressing worthwhile, but very different aspects of the issue.
Some are concerned with funding research to find a cure, some provide vital information to patients and advocacy to government, while others provide funding to employ vitally needed breast care nurses in treatment centres – especially in rural areas.
While all of these activities are important and certainly part of the long-term plan to overcome and hopefully eliminate the disease, at Think Pink we focus on the very real needs and struggles of those who have been diagnosed and are currently living through what is probably the most challenging time of their life.
It was during the treatment for the recurrence of her breast cancer in 2004, that Irene Hendel encountered many younger women being treated and witnessed first-hand the financial devastation that can accompany a diagnosis. This was the catalyst for Think Pink to change the emphasis of our efforts to directly assist and support anyone affected by breast cancer.
At the Think Pink Foundation our focus is on helping people who have the disease – at every stage of the journey from initial diagnosis, through treatment and onto survivorship.
Simply put, our mission is to enable a better journey through breast cancer for patients and their families. Primarily, we do this by providing direct emotional, practical and physical support through a comprehensive range of programs we offer at our unique wellness centre called The Living Centre.
All of our services are provided free of charge. Importantly, all our services are available to breast cancer patients from any treatment centre and at any stage of their journey.
Research has shown that in addition to receiving best practice medical treatment, looking after the psychological and emotional aspects of the disease is also very important to patient outcomes, their wellbeing and quality of life.
