Photos by Mary Lyn Fonua

Celebrating Pink October, the Tonga Breast Cancer Society hosted a fundraising luncheon at the Vakaloa Resort, Kanokupolu today joined by the society Patron Princess Pilolevu, her daughters Hon Frederica Filipe and Hon. Fanetupouvava'u Tu'ivakano and their children. 

The "Pink Polynesia" theme for the event attracted a variety of outfits - but Princess Pilolevu in a dazzling pink ruffled creation won the prize for the "Pinkest Outfit".

President of the Society Hon. Frederica urged women to be aware of the risks of breast cancer and to have regular checks. Mammograms are now available at Vaiola Hospital in Nuku'alofa, thanks to fundraising efforts of the society. A mammogram is an X-ray image of your breast used to screen for breast cancer. Mammograms play a key role in early breast cancer detection and help decrease breast cancer deaths.

Hon. Frederica shared an online link to an article that answers questions on the rising rates of breast cancer in the world, and points to obesity as one factor: Breast Cancer In The Developing World: Rising Rates, Shrouded In Silence [2].

Fundraising activities continue throughout October. On Thursday the management and staff of the ANZ Bank Tonga, presented a donation of $2000 to Christine 'Uta'atu, treasurer of the society for this year's Pink October.