Auckland barrister and entrepreneur Ashima Singh hosted ‘Pink Ribbon Breakfast and Afternoon Tea’ earlier this month at Coffee Club on Broadway, Newmarket, to educate and create more awareness around breast cancer.
“I decided to address the breast cancer issue because it has been an ongoing issue for women all around the world. Especially, here in New Zealand, it is the third most common cancer,” Ashima Singh said.
Sixty people including three guest speakers attended the breakfast event, an aspiring entrepreneur, a doctor and a nurse from Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Foundation, each focussing on different aspects of a women’s life and struggles, and ended with one message ‘looking after one’s health in this fast-paced life.
Partner at Legal Associates, a law firm based in South Auckland, Ashima Singh led the event asking women present to educate themselves and their family and friends about breast cancer, keep looking for any signs and symptoms, getting themselves checked after certain intervals of the year.
“Most of the people focus on different commitments and don’t prioritise their health before it’s too late. Considering that 80% of woman are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in New Zealand, I believe women from different communities need to be educated regarding this ongoing issue,” Ashima Singh said.
Addressing the event, Gynecologist & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Dr Padmaji Koya spoke about her journey to become a surgeon, studying and training in India, UK before moving to New Zealand. Dr Koya is one of a very few gynaecologists who offers total laparoscopic hysterectomy in New Zealand.
Dr Koya emphasised on balancing work-life, ambitions and family life, and fitness, to lead a healthy life.
Aspiring entrepreneur, Bhavana Singh Chahal, owner of Robert Harris Roaster Franchise, fascinated the crowd with her inspiring speech on woman empowerment how she overcame her struggle as a woman entrepreneur.
The third guest speaker at the event, Kathryn Terry, a nurse from Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Foundation educated the crowd, mostly women, about prevention of breast cancer, watching out for early signs and symptoms, getting regular checkups, and spread the awareness amongst younger members of the family.
The broad message at the end of the event was to create awareness, talk about rising health issues, especially amongst women and lead a healthy life for a better tomorrow.