BREAST CANCER AWARENESS EFFORTS BY AVON MALAYSIA
Avon Malaysia partnered with Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Breast Cancer Welfare Association and National Cancer Society of Malaysia to celebrate 100 breast cancer survivors in conjunction of the newly set up Breast Cancer Center at the Hospital. The session showed Avon support to empower women with breast cancer to stay positive leading their next phase of life. Avon sold KGBC bracelet to support the awareness and fund raising campaign.
Avon hosted series of Pink Ribbon tour nationwide to share its support on breast cancer awareness campaign and encourage women to undergo breast-self exam. The aim is to educate women on early detection that could save life. The campaign was also supported by the Ministry of Women and its agencies during the tour. Avon products were sold to raise the fund during the tour and inside brochure campaigns.
Held on 10th August 2008 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, 5000 walkers took part in the Avon Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer 2008 organised by Avon Malaysia. With a minimum of RM20 per enrolment, public were encouraged to join this non-competitive but fun and meaningful walk. Besides receiving an exclusive REEBOK Tee Shirt worth RM90 and an AVON goody bag worth RM50. The fun filled morning was carried out with lots of activities and games; not forgetting entertainment by celebrities. Adding on, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development also extend complimentary health screening to the public during the event. The event raised RM50,000 for PRIDE Foundation, a non-government organisation for breast cancer cause.
A charity High Tea themed Saving Lives Thru’ Early Detection’ was held at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur on 28 June 2007. The objective was to raise funds to finance low budget breast health workshops at the grassroot communities in Malaysia. It was the first ever fundraising event organised by Avon Malaysia after attending a fundraising training in New York organised by Avon Foundation and American Cancer Society.
From the fundraising event, which started off with the USD15,000 grant received from Avon Foundation, we managed to raise RM127,212.25 (USD36,000). The funds will be used by BCWA’s volunteers to organise hands-on educational workshops at 25-odd locations in 2007/2008 to train women in the local communities on the importance of saving lives through early detection of breast cancer and the techniques of breast-self examinations. Those trained in these workshops will then be empowered to share the knowledge and skills with the members of their respective communities, particularly in smaller towns and rural villages.
The charity fundraising hi-tea was a partnership project between Avon Malaysia and its cancer league partner, Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) in collaboration with Avon Foundation and American Cancer Society - as part of the Walk Around the World for Breast Cancer worldwide program. It was generously supported by presenting sponsors, Novartis Oncology and Maritz.
This social responsibility program by Avon Malaysia began way back in 1994 when AVON Malaysia launched the Early Breast Cancer Detection campaign also known as KEBAL with the objectives to create better awareness on breast cancer, educating women on the importance of early detection and to provide support services to breast cancer patients.
The program’s name was later changed to Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer or KGBC in August 2002, with the same objectives, which was launched by the Health Minister then.
With great support from Avon Representatives and Customers, Avon products sold from this program benefited the following beneficiaries:-
2003 - Donated a RM250,00 (USD72,000) Mammotome™ Breast Biopsy System to Hospital Putrajaya.
2004 - Donated an ultrasound scanner worth RM250,000 (USD72,000) to Hospital Putrajaya.
2005 - Sponsored the setting-up of a Breast Cancer Resource Centre at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) at the cost of RM100,000 (USD29,000). The centre has a counselling room, a computerised information centre complete with books and reference material for the benefit of breast cancer patients and survivors.
2006 - Donated RM100,000 (USD29,000) to the Breast Cancer Resource Centre of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to help lighten the burden of lower-income breast cancer survivors who cannot afford the purchase of breast prosthesis and special undergarments worn after undergoing a mastectomy.
2007 - Donated RM100,000 (USD29,000) to the Breast Cancer Resource Centre of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to help lighten the burden of lower-income breast cancer patients who cannot afford the costs of chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy treatments after undergoing surgeries.
2008 – Donated RM100, 000 to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) to set up breast cancer resource centre
2008 – Donated RM50, 000 for approximately 500 women from various NGO to enjoy free mammogram sessions at PRIMANORA Medical Centre.
2010 – Donated RM10,000 to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) to fund the running of the Breast Cancer Resource centre
2010 – Donated RM50,000 to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) for the breast Cancer survivorship program.
2012- Donated RM50,000 to Pink Charity and Breast Cancer Welfare Association.(BCWA)
2013- Donated RM100,000 to five NGOs to support Breast Cancer related activities and campaign
2017 – Donated RM100,000 to University Malaya Medical Center to support low income women for early diagnosis at the center.