What started as a quiet moment in our Centre quickly grew into something far bigger than we could have imagined.
A member of our centre whānau came in and bravely shared that they had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a moment that stopped us in our tracks. For many of us, it struck close to home — almost everyone knows someone who has been affected by this disease, whether it’s a friend, a parent, a sibling, a colleague, or a neighbour.
The news brought with it a mix of emotions sadness, empathy, and a strong desire to help. From that moment, the idea for our Pink Walk was born a way for us to come together as a community, wrap our arms around them and show our support, and raise both awareness and hope.
The walk was held on Thursday, May 22nd and brought together whānau, friends, and locals of all ages. The evening began with a warm-up led by Shannon Lloyd, followed by a beautiful walk through Omokoroa. With pink outfits, street lights, and a shared sense of purpose, we walked not only for one family, but for the many lives touched by breast cancer.
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, we raised over $2,600. In an incredible act of kindness, the family we walked for asked that all proceeds be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation, choosing to give back and support the wider cause rather than accept the funds themselves. A special thank you goes out to Nat and Janine & Terryn, who helped plan the walk track, set up the space, organise the music and dancers, and brought so many creative ideas to life.
Shenae played a huge role in handling the emails, communications, and securing sponsorships, while Terryn also kept everything running smoothly behind the scenes, making sure the event stayed on track from start to finish and that we all kept up with our part. This truly was a team effort, and we are so grateful for every hand that helped bring it together.
We are so grateful to everyone who joined us – from those who walked, donated, or simply showed their support – and to the amazing local businesses who sponsored this event:
- Omokoroa Pet Vets
- Skin Religion
- Taylored Tails
- Victory Performance Centre
- Omokoroa Fury Men's Football Team
- BOOST Aesthetic
- Flowology
- Ōmokoroa Artisan Bakery
This walk was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with love and intention. We’re proud to share that this is just the beginning – in September, we’ll be hosting a Blue Walk in support of Prostate Cancer Awareness, and we look forward to standing together once again for another important cause.
Thank you, Omokoroa community – your hearts are as big as your footsteps