ACON – NSW’s leading LGBTI health organisation – is inviting women from our communities to start their 40th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations with a Lazy Sunday in Sydney’s Inner West.
Lazy Sunday will be held at Enmore Park in Marrickville on Sunday 11 February, an event produced by ACON to support the breast cancer awareness campaign #TalkTouchTest. Running from 1pm-5pm, this free event is sponsored by the Inner West Council, and supported by Breast Screen NSW.
Lazy Sunday features a great line-up of performers and events that offers something for everyone. Throughout the afternoon there will be live music acts including Ali and the Thieves, DJ Kate Monroe, Jessie Lloyd and DJ Passionpop. The event will offer time for play with sport activities led by Pride Football Australia and the Sydney Women’s Baseball League; as well as a kids craft tent space and of course, a park for the pooches.
Acting ACON CEO Karen Price says this event follows on from last year’s successful Welcome to Breastiville! event during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.
“While this is a casual event, it comes with a serious message. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting women, with 1 in 8 women diagnosed in Australia. We know our screening rates are lower than they should be, and that LGBTIQ women have different experiences, health profiles and other factors that make them a priority group for cancer awareness and screening.
“Breast cancer is all too common – we all know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer. Our community is strong when we come together, so it is our aim to create a space for LGBTIQ women to come together and support each other to build a healthy, resilient community. A mammogram every two years for women aged 50+ is part of that picture.”
“We want to raise awareness about what factors increase their risk of developing breast cancer, and encourage all LGBTIQ women, regardless of age, to prioritise their health. We are grateful to the Sydney Local Health District who are making their BreastScreen NSW van available onsite, offering free mammograms on both Saturday and Sunday.” Price said.
Community member Jakk Hodson said that they owe a lot to having the BreastScreen NSW van on-site at the Welcome to Breastville! event – accessing the service resulted in the early detection of breast cancer, a diagnosis that may not have been picked up for another year.
“I owe so much to the BreastScreen NSW van being there. Having a mammogram there, meant that my breast cancer was detected at an early stage – it could have possibly saved my life.”
“Having the van there also creates discussion, as women were talking about the #TalkTouchTest campaign as well as being open about issues relating to breast cancer and screening. People were asking each other questions like ‘When was the last time you were tested?’ and ‘I’ve never been tested, maybe I should?’
“We’re so fortunate to have free services available to get screened. I can’t argue enough for everyone to take advantage of this service. Thanks to the incredible work that ACON and BreastScreen NSW do, for they – in partnership with doctors – were able to detect and treat my breast cancer very early on” Hodson said.
The Cancer Institute NSW, which coordinates the BreastScreen NSW program says that a mammogram every two years is the best way to detect cancer early.
“A mammogram can detect breast cancer before it can be seen or felt,” Cancer Institute NSW Director of Screening and Prevention, Sarah McGill said. “If breast cancer is detected early, women have a much better chance of survival. Detecting it early also means less invasive treatment options, and ultimately a better outcome.”
“Our partnership with ACON is important in helping us reach women in the LGBTIQ community.”
ACON President, Dr Justin Koonin said ACON’s work in this area is critical to the organisation’s mission.
“We are proud of the work we are doing to promote the health, throughout life, of LGBTI people. We thank our partners in this effort and particularly women from our communities who are supporting our work to increase screening rates for breast and other cancers,” Dr Koonin said.
“Our #TalkTouchTest campaign is built by community, for community. We have a history of supporting each other and ACON is incredibly proud to engaging our communities to tackle breast cancer. So please, if you are due for a mammogram, come down and visit the Van on 10 and 11 February and enjoy a Lazy Sunday with us.”
For more information, visit www.acon.org.au/lazysunday or check out the Lazy Sunday Facebook page here.
To view ACON’s activities during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2018, visit www.acon.org.au
ENDS
For more information please contact:
David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042
