About Us
Who is BCFWA?
The Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia Inc provides personalised support and care for those affected by breast cancer.
Founded in 2000 by Ros Worthington OAM, the BCFWA aimed to improve the quality of life for women living with breast cancer. In just seven years the growth of the BCFWA now sees it broadening services to support men, families and the Indigenous community. The BCFWA also raises awareness throughout the WA community and educates the younger generations on the importance of early detection.
Since its inception the BCFWA has provided practical, financial and emotional support to hundreds of Western Australian women, men and their families who have been faced with the challenges of life following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Offering support with everything from installing remote control garage doors, providing transport, purchasing new beds, providing respite by way of a family holiday and financial assistance with breast cancer treatments to just being a friendly shoulder in times of need.
The BCFWA receives no recurrent government funding and relies solely on the generosity of the WA community to continue its vital work. Sponsorships and donations are the life source of the assistance we provide to those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are in need of basic support and care.
With a strong understanding of the needs of Western Australians living with breast cancer, community support groups have been established to allow women, men and their families to openly discuss their feelings and share information with fellow Survivors. These support groups cater for various sections of the community including the young women’s support group The Young and the Breastless, a support group for those with advanced cancer, and many other general support groups who meet regularly throughout Perth.
The BCFWA not only provides support and care, it also aims to promote breast cancer awareness throughout the community. The annual fundraising campaign, Purple Bra Day, raises awareness in a light-hearted manner which sees men and women wearing purple bras on top of their work clothes for a day in order to show that they are breast aware. This campaign not only draws increased attention but raises awareness on a global scale, going as far as Ireland, the UK and Zambia in years past.
Education is another major facet of the work of the BCFWA with the recent release of their Breast Awareness Learning Resource, which is available to High Schools across Australia. This Education Package aims to spread the message that breast cancer does not discriminate against age or race and that early detection saves lives.
Heading regional, the BCFWA also concentrates on providing support and teaching awareness throughout the Indigenous community, holding forums for Indigenous women throughout the Kimberley, Wheatbelt and Pilbara regions and providing breast awareness training to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers.