“I’d never heard of a mammogram”: Pink Caravan spreads the word 

Sadly, Pinkie’s tour was shortened due to COVID-19. However, it had already made a huge impact. In Dunedin, one visitor told the caravan nurses, “Until now, I’d never heard of a mammogram.” She was 47 years old. Caravan nurses promptly enrolled her in BreastScreen Aotearoa’s free screening programme along with two other women – one who’d just turned 45 and another, aged 52, who’d never had a mammogram.

Breast nurse educators took side trips to speak to members of the public and health professionals at GP practices, hospitals and community events across the South Island. Towns visited included Bluff, Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown, Alexandra, Cromwell, Wanaka and Tuatapere. Pinkie was warmly received everywhere and word spread quickly in smaller communities. A fisherman on a trawler off the south coast heard that Pinkie was in Bluff and called his wife to tell her to drop by – which she did!

Pinkie will resume its South Island tour in Oamaru. You can watch its progress by following posts on our social media.

Thanks for your generous support.