Coinciding with the 13th National Breast Care Nurse Conference in Melbourne this week, long-term Corporate Friend of the McGrath Foundation, IGA, proudly announced today the funding of two new part-time McGrath IGA Breast Care Nurse positions for the next three years.

The communities of Myrtleford, Bright, Mt Beauty and surrounding districts in north-eastern Victoria and Northam in WA will join 59 other communities around Australia now supported by McGrath Breast Care Nurses, helping provide invaluable support for local women experiencing breast cancer and their families.

Over the past two years, IGA has rolled out more than four campaigns raising over $120,000 to help fund the two McGrath IGA Breast Care Nurse positions to support the communities in which they operate.

With the Northam position currently under recruitment, the newly appointed McGrath IGA Breast Care Nurse for Alpine Health communities in Victoria, Kerry Patford, feels privileged to take on this new role. Currently working in a part-time position as a breast care nurse in Benalla, Kerry has been nursing for twenty years, with significant experience in specialist breast care nursing.

‘To be allowed into the lives of these families experiencing breast cancer is so special as I know I am able to help them through what can be an incredibly difficult time by answering their questions about technical or complicated information and most importantly, offering vital emotional support.

‘Through my role, I am able to act as a carer and patient advocate, and I am confident that in my role as a McGrath IGA Breast Care Nurse, I will be able to help families in the Alpine Shire in much need of my support,’ said Kerry.

Mick Daly, IGA National Chairman believes that IGA’s fundraising efforts will have a huge impact on families experiencing breast cancer.

‘IGA retailers across Australia have all come on board to support numerous McGrath Foundation initiatives in the past two years to help raise funds for more breast care nurses where they are really needed. Sadly, breast cancer affects many women all over the country and the work the McGrath Foundation does in supporting them and their families at their time of need is vital and IGA are proud to have been able to make a difference.’

The McGrath Foundation’s Tracy Bevan was thrilled with the funding of the two new McGrath IGA Breast Care Nurse positions.

‘We are incredibly proud of our friendship with IGA. The reality is that they have been an amazing Corporate Friend to the Foundation over the past two years, working with us to fundraise and engage their staff purely to fulfil their ultimate goal of funding a McGrath IGA Breast Care Nurse position. To know how hard they have worked and to see not one but two communities benefiting from their efforts is amazing.

‘At the Foundation, this is our ultimate goal ‘ to fund additional McGrath Breast Care Nurse positions to support communities in greatest need and to build strong friendships within the community to achieve this.

‘We are delighted IGA has committed to funding the Alpine Health communities and Northam positions for the next three years. There is little doubt that the position will provide invaluable support for families in these communities experiencing breast cancer.’