Two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing a double mastectomy, Karin Falkenberg is determined to help cancer research.
Not long after her diagnosis, Ms Falkenberg and her family were asked by the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to take part in a research study.
“They invited me because, in my history, my sister had cancer of the colon and ovarian cancer and passed away from it,” Ms Falkenberg said. “My grandmother had a mastectomy when she was in her 40s; my grandfather died of prostate.”
Ms Falkenberg and her daughter are now raising awareness of breast cancer by hosting a girls’ night in with a difference.
Her daughter, Pia Fonsboel, is inviting the public to a fund-raising night at her Danish furniture warehouse in Williamstown.
Western suburbs’ women have been invited to book a stall for the fund-raiser. About 15 have accepted so far with stalls to include jewellery, plants, false eyelashes, scarves, handbags, children’s clothes and crafts.
Ms Fonsboel said cancer had been a marking event for the family, but some positives had emerged. “Mum has been vigilant because her sister died at 49 of several different cancers,” she said. “We’ve been asked to take part in breast cancer research … and, of course, we want to help others.’’
Fifty women a day are diagnosed with breast or a gynaecological cancer in Australia, according to the Cancer Council.
“This is actually more of a celebration of life … it’s a celebration of women; what we can achieve when we put our minds to it, whether it be surviving cancer or as a relative or as a friend of someone who’s had cancer,” Ms Fonsboel said.
The girls’ night in is on November 29 from 6pm at the Retropia Homewares showroom, 3/33 Macaulay Street, Williamstown. Entry is by gold coin donation. Proceeds go to the Cancer Council.
