Pink mushroom punnets raise R400k+ for Reach for Recovery

Contributing to a total of R2,043,928 raised over a five-year period, monies raised in previous years are as follows: R414,473 in 2013; R570,668 in 2012; R380,620 in 2011 and R232,524 in 2010.

Six hundred and eighty three women from all over South Africa (including Gauteng, Northern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape as well as Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga) benefitted from the money donated by SAMFA, Pick n Pay (PnP) and Thermopac during 2014.

Image credit: www.picknpay.co.za

Fresh cultivated mushrooms in South Africa joined the fight against breast cancer in 2010 when punnets first turned pink on PnP shelves to support the work Reach for Recovery (R4R) South Africa does.

The mushroom industry's motivation to support breast cancer month stems from the many international research studies which continue to support the positive link between mushroom consumption and the reduction of breast cancer.

"At the heart of the Power of Pink Pink Punnet project," says Stephné Jacobs, Chairperson of the Board of Management for Reach for Recovery South Africa, "is the premise that mushrooms play a role in lowering breast cancer risk. Reach for Recovery is a special volunteer-driven organisation and makes a big difference in the lives of women confronted with this disease. We are so grateful for the commitment and involvement of the South African Mushroom Farmers' Association (SAMFA) in our efforts to assist women on their road to recovery."

The number of silicone prostheses distributed per region:

• Gauteng: 284
  
• KwaZulu-Natal: 8
  
• Northern Cape: 60
  
• Free State: 80
  
• Western Cape: 180
  
• Eastern Cape: 71

David North, Corporate Affairs Director of PnP said, "We applaud the South African mushroom industry for this campaign, which to date has raised more than R2m. Pick n Pay is proud to have partnered with SAMFA in raising these funds for the Reach for Recovery programme, which provides emotional care and practical support to breast cancer patients and their families.

"It is an extraordinary industry achievement and we are immensely proud of the efforts our members made to make this initiative the success that it is."