Cancer survivor and Albany nurse Rae Hartley supporting the IGA Purple Bra Day campaign

Albany breast cancer survivor Rae Hartley is encouraging local people to get involved with IGA Purple Bra Day, the annual fundraiser for Breast Cancer Care WA.

Mrs Hartley is a BCCWA Purple Bra Day ambassador and the organisation is hoping to raise $400,000 from the appeal which runs until September 17.

Breast Cancer Care WA provides care, counselling and financial support for people living in WA who have breast cancer.

It is celebrating 25 years of service and receives no government funding.

Mrs Hartley’s life changed a year ago when a routine mammogram led to a breast cancer diagnosis, a lumpectomy and then a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She received help from the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme for the time she spent in hospital in Perth and free specialist support from BCCWA which included one-to-one counselling.

Mrs Hartley, a nurse, said the counselling gave her a safe space to talk about the emotional toll of treatment.

“As a health professional I sometimes felt the need to protect my family from the harsh realities,” she said.

“With counselling, I could just sit down and cry if I needed to.”

She is nearing the end of her active treatment, and she thanked the supporters and fundraisers who make BCCWA’s services possible.

“The support I receive makes such a difference,” she said.

“Knowing someone is there to listen, to check in, to understand is not something you can put a price on.”

Purple Bra Day organisers want to increase awareness as well as funds and suggest running bake sales or workplace challenges to raise money.

Details for donations and fundraising packs are available from purplebraday.com.au.