Where Do Funds Go?
Additional hours for Breast Care Nurses
Blush Cancer Care co-funds the wages of the breast cancer nurses at St Andrew's Toowoomba Hospital. The nurses have contact with newly diagnosed patients. Just as importantly, they maintain contact with those who have completed their acute treatment.
The importance of a Blush Nurse is invaluable, being able to provide expert and compassionate care to each breast cancer patient. The nurses help their patients navigate towards healthier lifestyles via education, practical and emotional support.
Fight back with Fitness
In conjunction with The Fit Lab Health & Fitness and Queensland X-Ray, Blush co-funds breast cancer patients in a 10 week exercise program to enhance their recovery and reduce recurrence of breast cancer!
They attend three times a week for an hour under the care of trained exercise physiologists with a special interest in exercise post cancer. We are hoping to facilitate over 100 women through the program over the next two years.
Designed for women diagnosed with breast cancer, regular exercise during and following treatment has shown to improve both physical and emotional health, the overall quality of life, and reduce recurrence of breast cancer.
Patient (educational /information) Forums
The forums, which have run four years in a row, have local and visiting speakers and trade displays. The local breast cancer support personnel are also available throughout the day for access by current patients. The main focus of the forum is wellness in going forward post breast cancer diagnosis and what you can do to change your outcome.
In previous years, we were proud to partner with the Prostate Foundation as the health and wellness aspects align with those of Blush Cancer Care.
We have been able, due to the generosity of speakers and sponsors, been able to present this to our patients free of charge!
Blush Care Packages
All patients, as soon as they begin treatment, receive a complimentary Blush care package.
This package includes a variety of helpful items for the patient as they go through treatment.
In 2015 Blush was the beneficiary of the Heritage Bank annual golf day (a charity fundraising event) and was given $10,000. This was a significant contribution to the continuing Care Package project!
Post-op Bra
All patients, as soon as they begin treatment, receive a complementary Blush care package valued at over $50. This package includes a beautiful pashmina that’s like a lovely hug from us to you, hand cream bio oil, notepad, pen as well as useful (and appropriate) toiletries such as lip balm and a cold pack to ease discomfort for the patient as they go through treatment.
In 2015 Blush was the beneficiary of the Heritage Bank annual golf day (a charity fundraising event) and was given $10,000. This was a significant contribution to the continuing Care Package project!
Appointment Diary
The diaries help patients keep track of the many ongoing medical treatments and resulting appointments during their treatment. This is an invaluable resource for all patients, and their medical practitioners, as they make their way through the treatment phases.
This is provided to patients at no cost and is generously supported by St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital.
Blush iPads
In March 2017 Blush was able to provide St Andrew’s Toowoomba Hospital with fully resourced iPads. They were loaded with useful information, videos, books and resource links for patients during their stay in hospital or as they undergo chemo or radiation treatments.
Thanks to a nomination from Barb Grey, our application to Aussie Cotton Farmers Grow Communities program (for funding give fully resourced iPads) was successful! Funding for an additional nine iPads was raised at the 2016 Blush After Dark event.
We thank the following donors:
Sedl Agencies, Create Financial, The Bradford Clinic, Impressions on Scott, Robertson Scannell, The Podiatrist, Armstrong Auto Group, Angela Kelly and the Reinke, Pearson, Johnston, Mulholland and Hindmarsh families.
We also thank Nathan from Frontier Computing for kindly donating his time and expertise to making sure these iPads were fully operational and loaded with all our resources.
Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group
The Toowoomba & Darling Downs Advanced Breast Cancer Group is focused on sharing information and lived wisdom of coping with advanced cancer – women supporting women. They are held the Second Wednesday of each month via Zoom video and audio conferencing. Face-to-face meetings at Inbound Restaurant, Toowoomba Railway Station will resume once Covid free. Find out more details here.
Support Us
Take a look at our latest Blush Merchandise and pick something up to support a great cause.