Victoria Stone-Meadows

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and local charity Pink in the Tropics will be raising awareness of their services throughout the month.

Pink in the Tropics (PITT) is a breast cancer support group that aims to help women in the Douglas Shire and surrounding regions feel less isolated during their breast cancer journey.

PITT was formed in 2008 by four local ladies, all diagnosed with breast cancer, who banded together to support one another.

They not only offer women battling the disease emotional support but also organise services to make day-to-day life during a difficult time a little bit easier.

The services they organise include housekeeping, delivering fresh meals, gardening, babysitting, travel for doctors’ appointments and also flying family members in when needed.

President of PITT, Maria Atkinson, said the charity has put together a special treat for their members during October.

“During breast cancer awareness month we have organised with Mossman Yoga Studio for women who are members of PITT or those undergoing breast cancer to access free yoga for the month,” she said.

“It is all about the inner strength that we hold on to because it’s quite stressful undergoing breast cancer.”

Ms Atkinson said the plan to provide yoga to women battling breast cancer was inspired by some of the members of PITT.

“We jump in and try to help where we can and we discovered that, for a number of women doing yoga, they were finding some incredible health benefits,” she said.

“They found it really helped them to be able to get through treatments and relieved some of the mental stress of dealing with cancer.” 

As well as the free yoga, PITT is also hosting a Pink Breakfast at Beechwoods Café in Mossman on Saturday 26 October.

All are welcome to attend the event and a percentage of the profits from breakfast will be donated to PITT.

“We are doing these things though October but hopefully we are able to extend these kinds of services out into the future,” Ms Atkinson said.

“We want to be able to do more things like this to help and support women on their journey.”

To find out more about Pink in the Tropics, their services, or how to support them; get in contact with Maria Atkinson on 0400 021 687 or Robyn Frahn on 0408 878 191.

Pink in the Tropics can also be contacted via Facebook.