When you’re told you have terminal breast cancer, life as you know it changes completely. I found a lump in my breast in December 2008. In January I had an ultrasound, biopsy, appointments, and then came “the phone call”. It felt like I was on a merry-go-round. I never thought it would happen to me. I had no history of cancer in my family. In April 2009 I got the … Read More
For people living with secondary breast cancer, access to practical help is essential for maintaining a positive life. Now, support and services for these people and their families has extended their assistance into the South Island. Fiona Hatton, Chief Executive of Sweet Louise, says the financial support from the Southern Cross Health Trust will allow the charity to provide support services in the South Island as well as access to … Read More
As someone who hardly ever got sick, Susan Clark says going to the doctor was something she rarely did. Then things changed. “I’d been going to the gym on a 10 day trial and I’d been doing weights. One evening I thought I’d pulled all the muscles in my arm and I could feel a lump in my armpit. I didn’t think anything of it, I just thought it was from the gym,” says Susan, who was 38 … Read More
A bit of homemade baking can do the world of good and thanks to Service Provider Loaf, delicious treats can be delivered to Sweet Louise Members. “It was great to use some Loaf baking for Christmas Day. It really took some of the stress off and made the day even more special,” says one of our Members. Thanks to supporters like you, Members can use their vouchers to enjoy baking that makes their life easier. Whether … Read More
With your help we are able to support Sweet Louise families as well as our Members. Shani Kara (35) was a Member who sadly passed away in October last year. Shani loved the phone calls from her Support Coordinator and the vouchers to spend on movie tickets, beauty therapies and haircuts. Last year Shani generously shared her story and was featured in the Australian Women’s Weekly, alongside a beautiful photo of her, which our Support Coordinators printed and framed for the family. … Read More
At our annual Christmas event, we welcomed Jeremy Taylor as our guest speaker. His wife Jaime was a Sweet Louise Member who passed away in 2013, leaving Jeremy a single dad of three. He spoke of his struggle since her death; dealing with a lot of anger and feeling his self confidence slip away. He says now, two years later, that “watching his girls grow, hearing them laugh and giggle makes my soul sing again. It is tempered … Read More
Running a marathon isn’t for the faint-hearted, and seven Sweet Louise supporters took up the challenge in support of New Zealanders living with secondary breast cancer. The amazing team raised more than $11,000. Brogan Donnelly took part in the ASB Auckland Marathon in memory of his dad and Sweet Louise Member Shane, who passed away in January 2015. Brogan says “my main goal was to complete it for my dad. I wasn’t out there for me. I … Read More
Take part in our #pinkbales photo competition and support New Zealanders living with secondary, terminal breast cancer. Take your most creative photo of pink bales and upload it to social media. Tag #sweetlouise and be in to win a pair of Skellerup red band gumboots and a packet of Pascall marshmallows (those pink bales look amazingly like large marshmallows). We’ll choose a winner every two weeks over summer. How #pinkbales … Read More
Thank you to everyone who came along to our Christmas Evening. While we gathered to celebrate Christmas, we also took the chance to do some fundraising! Thanks to your generosity, we raised $15,000 on the night which will go directly to supporting our Members. One of the highlights was hearing Jeremy’s story. It took real fortitude to overcome a fear of public speaking to share his and Jaime’s story. Something … Read More
Lately Geraldine has been travelling about in a fantastic, brand new car generously donated by Z Energy and Toyota. And to top it off, local Z operator John Hurley donated a $2000 petrol gift card! “There were certainly a few tears in my eyes with the whole announcement! What an incredible gift!” says Geraldine. Kent Hagen and Deborah Hart of Manawatu Toyota, along with John, were there to give the … Read More