When Kylie Richardson was only 27 and Cheryle Robins just 34 they embarked on something far more unexpected, far more unplanned and far more trying than either of them could ever have imagined.

In 2010 both women received the shock of their lives when they discovered their very own boobs were ticking time-bombs. From then on they would never look at themselves, the future or anything pink in the same way again.

Driven by a genuine desire to help other young breast cancer sufferers, Kylie and Cheryle created Shocking Pink, a brand new NZ charity dedicated to providing information, support and resources to young women (aged 20-45) with breast cancer to help make the journey through – and out the other side – a little easier.

Finding the majority of breast cancer resources to be information-based or catering more for the needs of post-menopausal women, both wanted to give a voice to the issues specific to young women facing breast cancer and from an experiential point of view.

Through their online community, Shocking Pink ensures all young women ‘in the pink’ have the same support that they found in each other. When having to undergo fertility treatment to ensure you might one day have children, waking up at night from menopausal hot flushes and trying to cope with difficult treatment and even more difficult feelings – the two founders know that without each other their journey would have been unimaginably harder.

Information on the site is not written by medical experts, trained counsellors or cancer information specialists – there’s plenty of amazing people already taking care of that.  

Instead, it’s written by young women telling it like it really is, because they’ve been there too and know just what it’s like to be looking down the barrel of your own bazookas!

Shocking Pink enables young women to connect and share their journey, supporting each other and knowing that, while few in number, they are definitely not alone. Kylie Richardson and Cheryle Robins are keen to reach out to other young breast cancer sufferers through the new charity.

“When you’re diagnosed with cancer, life as you know it comes to an abrupt stop and you’re thrust into an unknown world of medical procedures and technical jargon” explains Cheryle.

“Through Shocking Pink we aim to bring fellow breast cancer patients together so that we can support each other on our journey, sharing common experiences and even having a few laughs along the way,” adds Kylie.

For more information or if you'd like to make a donation visit www.shockingpink.org.nz

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