Think Pink Goes BUSH Supporting Blokes In Bendigo

The Think Pink Foundation’s Supporting Blokes Program has received a major boost with a grant for $36,950 from The Freemason Foundation of Victoria Limited via their Community Grants Program.

Following the success of taking the program on the road to Mornington Peninsula in February, in March The Think Pink Foundation in partnership with Bendigo Health are conducting the very first Bendigo Supporting Blokes Group. This group offers male partners and carers a chance to meet, share experiences, explore coping strategies and gather information to support themselves, their partner and family.

Irene Hendel OAM, Founder and Patron of the Think Pink Foundation, said “the Supporting Blokes Program was developed by the Think Pink Living Centre Team in 2013 to support men who are affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Partners, adult sons, siblings, family, and friends – all of whom have roles directly supportive to women with breast cancer. The Supporting Blokes Program was developed in recognition of the many issues faced by partners and family members supporting partners with breast cancer and is professionally delivered by our highly experienced and qualified Think Pink Breast Care Nurse and Social Worker.”

Andrea Cannon, Think Pink’s Senior Breast Care Nurse said the new program “aimed to extend the reach of the current Supporting Blokes Program based at the Living Centre in Melbourne which has been operating very successfully over the last five years.”

The rural-based program will develop a mutual-aid, peer support program and delivery network and will continue to operate through local health and community networks in the years to come. This unique program also supports men by helping them to develop positive strategies for lasting self-care and resilience.

Ms Cannon said whilst high quality medical care and diagnostic technology is generally available to metropolitan residents, this is not always the case in rural and outlying areas requiring some patients to travel to Melbourne or major cities to receive their treatment.

Practical and psychological support services relating to breast cancer are not as readily available in regional Victoria compared with metropolitan Melbourne.

There are even fewer resources available for males supporting women with breast cancer – many of whom are also very much affected by a diagnosis and many of whom are economically compelled to stay at home while patients receive their treatment.

Supporting Blokes Group in Bendigo

When: Thursday 15 March 2018

Time : 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Where :  Bendigo Cancer Centre

Ground Floor

Bendigo Health (Mercy Street Entrance)

100 Barnard Street

BENDIGO

www.thinkpink.org.au ph: (03) 9820 2888 email: thelivingcentre@thinkpink.org.au