Rotorua waka ama paddlers raising awareness of breast cancer

Te Pumanawa o toku ate Rogers and mum Yvonne Rogers at the Pink Walk in 2012. Photo / File

Waka ama paddlers in Rotorua will be following the lead of the successful pink walk held each October to raise awareness of breast cancer.

On October 14 at 9am paddlers will set off from the Rotorua Lakefront and paddle between 2km to 7km.

Paddler and New Zealand's current senior women's sprint champion Yvonne Rogers said breast cancer was a big issue for wāhine and the impact on their whānau was huge.

"We want to support breast cancer month, and raise awareness among our kaiwaka [paddler] community, and encourage our wāhine to test your breast".

The event is expected to gather hundreds of local paddlers who are being encouraged to wear pink to show their support for this campaign.

Lakes District Health Board's Phyllis Tangitu said the most common cancer for wāhine in the Lakes area was breast cancer, accounting for 34 per cent of all positive cancer diagnosis among women.

"Breast cancer is also the second most common cause of cancer death in the Lakes [area], with breast cancer mortality for Māori women three times the rate of non-Māori, and therefore it's important for us to support this kaupapa".

Breast Screen Aotearoa provides free mammography screening for breast cancer to women aged 45 to 69, with the current target of at least 70 per cent of eligible women screened every two years.

The rates for Māori women in the Lakes area getting their mammography screening is lower than that of non-Māori, at 63 per cent.

The purpose of the paddle is to encourage wāhine Māori to #TestYourBreast, and reduce the impact that breast cancer has on kaiwaka, their whānau and community and raise funds for Aratika Cancer Trust.

Those organising the event would love to encourage paddlers around the country to get on the water at 9am on October 14, wearing pink and post a picture to the Facebook Page 100 per cent of Kaiwaka Screened.

Mala Grant from Te Arawa Whānau Ora said as she went through her breast cancer journey, paddling was important to her.

"It was my place of strength, and my place of healing, I am forever grateful for the support I had from my whānau, but also my Hinemala's and the kaiwaka community".

Grant said waka ama was not just a sport, it was a community, "it is life".

For more information on the #TestYourBreast campaign go to the 100 per cent of Kaiwaka Screened Facebook page.