Bread blog
Bakers Delight and BCNA Pink Bun campaign
BCNA CEO Lyn Swinburne with Community Events Manager Marita O'Keefe and Vivienne Harkness
I have worked all my life in charitable organisations directing special events, so I know only too well how vital the support of a sponsor can be, and how important that the partnership be nurtured by both parties.
The ’marriage’ between Bakers Delight and BCNA is inspiring – it is so kind, caring, concerned, generous and it is so out there in the eye of the public. I was privileged to work with eight franchisees last year – what a wonderful experience! Such friendly, happy, enthusiastic people, who made me feel so welcome.
I was able to talk with so many customers who had experienced breast cancer, either personally or through a family member or friend.
I remember talking with a lovely young mother, who had a baby on her hip and a toddler by her side, with another one at school. She was diagnosed with breast cancer before she became pregnant with her third child, but she was happy, looked well, was very positive and a beautiful mum – determined to have her 3rd child, despite her situation. What courage, what positive thinking, what hope she has in her heart. I was deeply moved and at the same time inspired by her story.
I remember too – the two big burly guys who approached me to talk about a colleague who had just been diagnosed at work and they were feeling helpless and inadequate. They took several ’How to Help a Friend and Colleague’ brochures to distribute around their office and were extremely grateful to both Bakers Delight and BCNA for their support – again evidence of this wonderful partnership – so many helped – not just with their lunch and their daily bread, but also knowledge of how to cope in a sad and challenging situation.
I have the BRCA 2 gene and have had breast cancer twice – so I have definitely been there, done that! But I have been lucky – I am still here to tell the tale!
So here I am volunteering with BCNA, feeling fulfilled and loving every moment of it, while working alongside the most wonderful, dedicated, warm, kind, caring and friendly people, steered resolutely through by their delightful, incredible leader and inspiration – Lyn Swinburne CEO of BCNA.
I could say the same qualities are evident in the management and staff of Bakers Delight, who are always most welcoming to the BCNA volunteers.
My heartfelt thanks, on behalf of all who have breast cancer, for the wonderful, invaluable support of BCNA, which could not happen without the incredible, generous support of Bakers Delight.
I wish both Bakers Delight and BCNA all the success they so well deserve in this, the 10th Pink Bun Campaign.
- Vivienne Harkness - BCNA Community Liaison and breast cancer survivor