Breast Cancer Support Service praised for local, free-of-charge care

The Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga (BCSST) has been highlighted as a vital community resource following fundraising at Matahui School, with the charity's fundraising co-ordinator Tracey Phizacklea emphasising the breadth of support it provides. The organisation offers practical, emotional, and deeply personal care to people at every stage of their breast cancer journey, covering the Western Bay of Plenty from Waihi Beach to Maketū.

Phizacklea noted that not every region in Aotearoa has a dedicated local support service of this kind. BCSST supports around 330 women and men each year and is an independent charity funded entirely through grants and donations — receiving no government funding. That makes community fundraising efforts, like the one at Matahui School, especially important.

The service offers things like petrol vouchers and food assistance, and provides trusted, local care close to home for those who need it most. Phizacklea said she was deeply grateful to everyone who raises funds on the charity's behalf, noting that times are tough and the work is genuinely significant for those going through diagnosis and treatment.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).