On Sunday August 6th I was absolutely wowed by an amazing room full of guests!
The venue – Bar Orient - was jam-packed with people from all parts of my life – important relatives, past students, high school buddies (some I hadn’t seen in 35 years!), friends I’ve made through exercise classes, mother’s group, workplaces, P&C and my neighbourhood.
Long-term friends, breast cancer friends and new friends, some that I met for the very first time as they walked through the door – all who chose to be at the launch of Show Us Your Tits – Baring All and Beating Breast Cancer – rather than be anywhere else.
It felt absolutely amazing to be supported and encouraged by so many, and besides stuffing up a few book orders, the event went like clockwork. I began the afternoon full of nerves, but after feeling the love and support in the room (it was tangible!) the nervous feeling seemed to vanish into thin air.
The launch was also heap of fun. Lots of funny quips from the audience and a general feeling of joy seemed to permeate through the room. It was also emotional, entertaining and exciting.
I had an amazing support crew who turned up 2 hours before the event to help set up raffle baskets, blow up balloons, set up tables and decorations, organise names on the door and book selling opportunities, and also make sure technology was going to be our friend for the afternoon with EFTPOS machines, laptops, screens, microphones, remotes … I can’t believe it all worked really!
Doug Hesketh entertained us with a great variety of songs during breaks and I even got to have a little sing along before guests started arriving, with a slap-dash go at ‘Whole of the Moon’.
BreastScreen WA was represented by Sonya and Lauren and they received quite a few enquiries, lots of brochures were taken, and a few mammograms were even booked in too.
This is what it is all about!
Raising awareness of the prevalence of breast cancer, along with eligibility from 40 (which is still not well known around this country, despite it being in existence for 30 years) and the importance of early detection, is paramount. Mammography is our best tool for finding breast cancer early, and therefore surviving the disease.
One of the best outcomes of the afternoon was raising $2640 for Breast Cancer Care WA (BCCWA) just from door donations and the raffle! Everybody’s financial generosity is relative right? But I had friends and relatives folding up $50 and $100 notes to squish into those tins!
Zoe McAlpine (Former BCCWA CEO) spoke about this amazing organisation that we have here in Western Australia. It is fairly unique, and anyone diagnosed with breast cancer in this state, already has a fantastic support network just waiting to help them. BCCWA were my compass through breast cancer, and I simply would not have fared as well without them. So, to be giving back to this charity, means a lot to me. This is where all of the profits from book sales will go too. Once I have covered production costs, BCCWA will receive every cent of profit!
I shared how the book began – I began writing it even before I knew I was writing it! I also shared the three main purposes of the book.
Self-Healing: Writing about what happened to me was a very cathartic process. I was able to reflect on pictures, write poetry and explain it all to myself, through my own words - so this goal was achieved long before publication.
Awareness and Assistance: If breast cancer can happen to me at 46, then it can happen to anyone. I was determined to raise awareness, not only about the prevalence of breast cancer in Australia, but also about the usual process that most breast cancer survivors must go through, in order to come out the other side of the breast cancer storm, and begin enjoying their own new rays of sunshine with additional personal rainbow. I really believe that my story can help so many other breast cancer survivors out there. Connecting with someone else’s story and finding that you are not alone with your shock and disbelief, your fear and trepidation, your loneliness and despair can be invaluable.
Raise Money for Charity: So far, I have sold about 250 books. Not bad, in less than two weeks since release, but the daunting thought is that I still have 750 left to sell! Perhaps you can help with a purchase or two?
I then read some important passages from the book – something BOLD, something BEAUTIFUL, something BRAVE and something BRILLIANT – for this is how the book is set out.
The feedback so far has been overwhelming! People are sending in amazing little snippets of appreciation – devouring the book in two sittings, not being able to put it down, crying as they are reading and also finding themselves laughing out loud. For not only do I speak of the factual and confronting in my memoir, I also have a good old laugh at myself and the things that happened to me whilst going through treatment.
Last weekend a BC warrior sent me a selfie reading Show Us Your Tits and having a giggle, all while receiving her 7th chemo treatment. This was such an amazing gift to receive. To know this book is helping others is such a huge honour.
And so, onwards from the success of launch and into the selling of some 750 books that I still have adorning my home.
If you have a copy already, please send in your review, perhaps with a photo of book in-hand.
I would love to be able to share your feedback as it will help me to get the book known out there and those much-needed funds heading to BCCWA.
If you are yet to purchase, jump over to the SHOP page on this website and grab yourself a copy. If you would like it signed, be sure to leave a message when you order, as I would love to personalise it for you, or any other recipient.
Much love,
Jo
Σχόλια