Jan Forsyth from Christchurch is organising a second-hand clothing sale to raise funds to support women with incurable breast cancer living in the South Island.
The fundraising effort is in the name of Jan’s friend, Caroline Horton, who passed away with breast cancer in 2017 at the age of 50.
Jan says “Caroline was a real people gatherer. She was so warm and outgoing. She always thought of others. She was such a special person.
“Caroline was doing her best to manage her own stage 4, incurable breast cancer, but she also wanted to do whatever she could to help other women facing the same challenge.”
“Caroline was planning to raise funds to increase services for women with incurable breast cancer in the South Island. But sadly, she passed away before she had a chance to make this happen. That’s why her friends want to do this fundraiser in her memory.”
In Caroline’s memory, Jan and a group of Caroline’s friends and family have organised a good quality second-hand clothing & accessories sale that will take place on Saturday, 21 August at the Bush Inn Shopping Centre from 9.30am-4:00pm. There will also a raffle, spot prizes and goodie bags.
Jan says: “I miss Caroline every day. Caroline didn’t want to be forgotten and by organising our fundraiser so Sweet Louise can support women in the South Island, we are making sure her memory lives on and helps others in her community. That’s just what she would have wanted.”
“We’ve been putting up posters of our fundraiser everywhere. Caroline would have loved to have seen her face all over Christchurch! Caroline is gone, but never forgotten.”
Sweet Louise is the only organisation in New Zealand working to support Kiwis with incurable, stage 4 breast cancer, also known as advanced, secondary or metastatic breast cancer. The organisation currently supports 760 women and their families right across the country, providing one-to-one emotional and practical support.
Sweet Louise Fundraising Manager, Kathy McKay says: “Caroline’s story is similar to so many of the women we work with. Over half are under the age of 59 and many have children under the age of 18.
“With the number of women needing our support in the South Island and across the country continuing to grow, our team are working harder than ever to reach every woman facing a diagnosis of incurable breast cancer.”
Sweet Louise relies totally on the generosity of New Zealanders and is appealing the Christchurch community to help provide vital ongoing support as well as meals and home help for women like Caroline – who is gone but not forgotten.