THE Australian cricket team has joined the McGrath Foundation to help raise awareness of the need for breast care nursing services in Australia.
McGrath Foundation Co-Founder and President, Glenn McGrath presented the Australian team with their baggy pink caps for the official team photo and announced the need for increased funding to address the national shortfall in breast care nurses.
The Pink Test, which runs from 3 – 7 January 2016, has become the McGrath Foundation’s biggest fundraising initiative and includes the iconic Jane McGrath Day where the entire crowd turns pink on Day 3, January 5, to support the McGrath Foundation and raise funds to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities all over Australia.
Research from the McGrath Foundation shows that in 2016 there will be a shortfall of 85 breast care nurses across the country and this figure will grow by 28 per cent by 2020.
Glenn McGrath said: “With 43 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer every day there is critical and continuing need for more McGrath Breast Care Nurses to support families through breast cancer.
“This year we’ve set our Pink Test fundraising goal at $380,000 which will fund one new McGrath Breast Care Nurse for three years.”
McGrath Foundation CEO, Petra Buchanan said: “Thanks to the generosity of Australians and organisations like Cricket Australia we have funded 110 McGrath Breast Care Nurses, which cost $14 million per year, and have supported 40,000 families through breast cancer. But there is still a long way to go to meet demand for these services.”
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: “Every year we’re amazed by the overwhelming support the Pink Test generates for the Foundation and its important work. From the two competing teams to the thousands of fans who bathe the SCG in pink, it demonstrates the positive difference sport can make.”
Each McGrath Breast Care Nurse provides free emotional, physical and psychological support when it’s needed most. Donations can be made at pinktest.com.au.
Donations made until January 13 go in the draw to win half a million Qantas Points.
Source: McGrath Foundation
