All in Pink on the Sunshine Coast

October is Global Breast Cancer Awareness month, as well as the annual  Mormon Helping Hands weekend. The Sunshine Coast Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints saw an opportunity to bring these two events together.

 Instead of donning their bright yellow Mormon Helping Hands vests, the community chose to use the colour pink to honour breast awareness month as they prepared for the Pinktober auction and market.

As part of this year's awarness month, church members supported the Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Program. This program aids and supports individuals and families affected by breast cancer. It provides them help with the day to day needs that are often challenging during treatment. Some members of the Sunshine Coast Stake (Diocese) have also benefited from this service.

On Saturday the 21st October, a community Pinktober Market and Auction was held at the Buderim War Memorial Hall, organised by local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The event consisted of an art exhibition and a wide range of market and food stalls. An auction of specialty cakes and other considerable prizes, including a seaplane flight, massages, dining vouchers and fitness sessions created excitement. 

Guests at the event were thrilled by quartet performances from the local youth orchestra. A magic show, local buskers, and a spectacular Latin dance performance rounded out the entertainment for the day.

The stake members rallied together to decorate, set up and staff stalls. They also prepared baked items.  Many members purchased stalls space to promote their own businesses. Unsurprisingly, the most popular were those who sold modest clothing for the women.

The event was a phenomenal success with over $5000 raised to donate to the Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Support Program.

Stake President Danielson-Jensen reflected, "It was exciting to see how our stake members were able to work together to successfully raise a significant amount of money to support a local charity."

Mormon Helping Hands program brings together members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their neighbours to provide community service. These volunteers in their trademark yellow shirts help people whose lives have been affected by natural disasters and other emergencies. Mormon Helping Hands volunteers also partner with government and nonprofit organizations to support and improve the communities where they live.