7:21a.m. 6th September 2007

The Sunshine Coast will be glowing pink for the launch of Breast Cancer Month, as the Point Cartwright Lighthouse is lit up for the Estee Lauder Global Illumination Initiative.

The Point Cartwright Lighthouse will be awash with a pink glow for the Estee Lauder Global Illumination Initiative on Wednesday September 26, to launch Breast Cancer Month and the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s annual Pink Ribbon Campaign on the Sunshine Coast.

The iconic lighthouse joins hundreds of famous landmarks, monuments and buildings in over 40 countries around the world, that have participated in the Global Illumination since it was launched by Evelyn Lauder in 2000. Some of these include the Sydney Opera House, Kensington Palace in the United Kingdom, The Empire State Building in the United States and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

Eleven other Australian cities, including Brisbane, will also take part in the initiative over the coming weeks to raise awareness of breast cancer and vital funds for research into the disease. A gala fundraising event is held in each city to coincide with the Illumination, with hopes to raise $1 million for the National Breast Cancer Foundation through these events.

To celebrate the Sunshine Coast’s joining this worldwide initiative, a fundraising event is a cocktail event has been organised for Thursday, October 4, 2007 at the Mooloolaba Surf Club - more than 200 people are expected to attend.

Tickets to this inaugural event are $80 per person, which includes beer, wine and canapés as well as entertainment and a fundraising auction and raffle.

Auction items include a painting by acclaimed local artist Denise Daffara, a pink surf ski donated by Ozflyte Surfcraft, jewellery from Oro Diamonds & Gold, and a holiday donated by the Juniper Development Group.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Australia, with more than 13,000 new cases expected this year. New diagnoses are also expected in 95 men.

More than 2600 women will die from the disease in a single year, making it the leading cause of cancer-related death in females. However with continued support and funding from organisations like the National Breast Cancer Foundation, improvements in research mean the survival rate is on the rise.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation is Australia’s only non-profit organisation that funds research across Australia into every aspect of breast cancer. Since it’s inception in 1994, the Foundation has provided over $27.5 million for 158 research projects through its corporate and community fundraising activities. October is the Foundation’s most important fundraising period and the 2007 Pink Ribbon Campaign aims to raise $4.3 million.

For more information, contact the Mooloolaba Surf Club on 5444 1300 or visit their website.

For more information on Breast Cancer Month, visit www.nbcf.org.au.