A haul truck with a hot pink tray is hitting the road from Mackay to Collinsville to raise awareness of breast cancer – and vital funds for Mater Chicks in Pink.
The haul truck will be based at Glencore’s Collinsville Open Cut mine, raising awareness for Mater Chicks in Pink, a not-for-profit which helps fund breast cancer care, treatment and support services at Mater Private Hospital Mackay.
Glencore’s Collinsville workforce are major supporters of Mater Foundation’s International Women’s Day Fun Run and Breasties Brunches and have so far raised more than $40,000 to fight and treat breast cancer.
The Collinsville mine donated an initial $5000 to Mater Chicks in Pink as the tray was unveiled at the Hastings Deering in Paget.
Collinsville Open Cut senior mechanical engineer James Barrett said the fight against breast cancer was a cause close to the hearts of the mine’s workers.
“Like a lot of people, many of our staff have been touched by breast cancer, so we are big supporters of the fun run and other fundraising events,” Barrett said.
“Our pink truck tray is another way of raising vital funds for Mater Chicks in Pink – and it will raise awareness of breast cancer wherever it goes.
“Importantly, we want Mackay women to know that they’re not alone when it comes to the fight against breast cancer.”.
Mater Private Hospital Mackay nurses joined the trucks unveiling to thank Glencore for its support.
Elly Engstrom, nurse unit manager of the hospital’s surgical ward, said more than 300 local women undergo surgery for breast cancer at Mater each year.
“Support for Mater Chicks in Pink goes straight to the frontline of the fight against cancer,” Engstrom said.
“It has funded a new Faxitron radiography system at Mater Mackay to make breast cancer surgery more precise and reduce the risk of women having to undergo secondary surgery.”
Mackay woman and Hastings Deering employee Raelene Brown knows first-hand how fundraising can make all the difference to breast cancer patients and their families.
She was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in 2020, which saw her undergo five months of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and follow-up radiation.
She said being able to access timely treatment and support close to home, at Mater Private Hospital Mackay was vital to her recovery.
“Everything was done in Mackay, so there were no long travel times, and I didn’t have to stay in an unfamiliar place while dealing with everything else,” she said.
“The nurses were brilliant. They were with me every step of the way and I felt so supported.”
Mater Foundation chief executive Andrew Thomas thanked Glencore, Schlam and Hastings Deering for supporting the mining truck initiative.
“A hot pink truck tray is a first for Mater Foundation – but we absolutely dig it!” he said.
“This initiative will enable Mater to fund personalised breast cancer services and invest in potentially life-saving cancer research, services and technology.
“Community generosity like this makes a positive, and very real, impact on the lives of breast cancer patients.”
Find out more about how to support Mater Chicks in Pink here.
