These kiwi celebs are using fashion to raise funds fo breast cancer awareness

The popular podcaster has fond memories of doing a photoshoot for BCC almost 23 years ago, when she was carrying her daughter Venetia.

Smiling, Petra tells us, “I was a few months pregnant. I remember thinking, ‘Can anyone tell?’ as I squeezed into my jeans. I was so excited to meet her!”

Life’s come full circle for the mum of three.

Today, her daughter, now 22, is on the set of our shoot as event coordinator of BCC, talking logistics for the launch with CEO Sonja de Mari.
It’s Venetia’s first full-time job and she’s loving it.

“She finished her finance degree and she’s a creative person who’s always loved events,” shares Petra, who hosts the podcast Grey Areas.

“I said to her, ‘Sonja’s one of the most generous people I know and she loves events. Why don’t you go learn from her?’”

This suggestion led Venetia to volunteer and after a season as an intern, she was employed in April. It’s a proud moment for Petra, who has a 25-year history with BCC.

“I’ve learnt a lot about the science because we fund New Zealand’s most brilliant minds, who are chasing the cancers down,” she says.

“When we first started, we were looking for the silver-bullet cure, but I recognise now we’re seeking a multitude of answers applicable
across a suite of cancers. Now most women who experience breast cancer in their lifetimes don’t die of it. That’s a transformation!”

The comedian and writer knows what it’s like to support friends and family through breast cancer – and to lose a loved one. Her closest pal Lesley, whom she grew up with in Levin, has survived breast cancer twice. However, Lesley’s mum Loys passed away from the disease.

“Breast cancer is not ripe in my family, but it’s ripe in my circle,” says Michèle.

“Lesley’s mum was like a mother to me. You know how you have a neighbour who lives next door that you climb over the fence to see when your mum’s being annoying? That was who Loys was to me.”

As for Lesley, the stand-up star smiles, “Getting breast cancer twice is wild – like being hit by lightning twice.”

She adds, “But she’s now 72, and she’s fit, healthy and good!”

Michèle, 64, has recently returned to Auckland from the Kāpiti Coast. She was visiting her 50-year-old cousin Marise, who’s currently battling breast cancer. Such connections make her role as a BCC ambassador even more poignant.

“I love the cure element because of what I’ve seen with my own friends and family’s journeys,” she shares.

“I’m into science and I get excited about raising money that goes directly to the scientists who are doing this incredible research.”

Michèle first got involved with BCC five years ago. Her good friend Jaquie Brown had to step down as an ambassador and suggested her as a replacement. Ever since, she’s collected the tees, with designer Kiri Nathan behind her favourite ones.

“The only T-shirts in my drawer now are BCC ones or stuff that I picked up on visits to Disneyland,” she admits.

“If you’re spending money on a tee, it might as well be one that does something useful!”

As she prepares to walk the runway at Eden Park, the Westside and Outrageous Fortune actress reveals a recent experience. Hearing a scientist speak at a BCC event proved a lightbulb moment for her.

“The biggest piece of advice she had was that while you get free mammograms from age 45 in New Zealand, if you can afford it, you should get them from when you’re 40,” tells Antonia, 41.

“Last year, I turned 40 and I had my first mammogram. It felt good and I’ve been telling everyone I know to do the same. It’s a great investment in your health and future.”

The fact she knows several women who have had breast cancer, including friends and family, was also motivation.

“Some have made it through, thank goodness, and others have not,” she shares.

“A friend was diagnosed with the BRCA gene and so had a full mastectomy. That was a significant decision for her – she was put into early menopause and had to deal with everything that comes with that.”

Reflecting on another mate’s experience with cervical cancer, which led to a hysterectomy and eventually becoming cancer-free, Antonia adds, “I don’t know anyone who isn’t touched by cancer, whether it’s happened to them, they’ve had a scare or whether it’s someone in their circle. It’s so terrifyingly prevalent.”

Her past five years as a BCC ambassador have given her a deeper understanding of what a cancer diagnosis means.

“I’ve met so many incredible women who are in remission or are still undergoing treatment,” she says.

“I’m just so moved by their incredible strength, resilience and their grace under the most intense pressure. It seems like they connect with life on a different level when they’re face to face with their mortality. “The goal is that for the next generation of women, breast cancer will be a survivable disease. We can do it – we just need money to support these incredible research projects.”

As a dancer, keeping herself as fit and well as possible is key for Nerida. Her dedication to health goes way back to when she was 11 and her dad passed away suddenly.

“Every year, I get a check-up just to make sure everything is OK and I go for my mammograms,” she tells us.

“I get regular B12 injections to make sure my energy levels stay up, I take iron supplements too and I go for a blood-prick test once every six weeks.”

The former Dancing With The Stars professional has been a BCC ambassador for two decades. For almost as long, she has been having regular tests. Her eldest son Kees, now 18, was diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum when he was just 18 months old.

Nerida, 49, shares, “There haven’t been enough clinical trials to discover whether his condition is environmental or genetics, so I did everything in my power, especially when I decided to have another child, to make sure his environment was clean and healthy. “When he was diagnosed, we were told not to have gluten, dairy, preservatives, sugar or any toxins – and that included any sprays or detergents in the house. Everything has to be natural.”

Nerida even went as far as to stop wearing makeup. She has relaxed this decision in recent years as Kees and his brother Jett, 14, grew older.

Today, the star – who also works as an eye-health technician – is collaborating with BCC to create a dance fundraiser.

“What I love about dance is whether you’re in a wheelchair, or are neurotypical or neurodiverse, it has a way of bringing everyone to the same level,” she enthuses.

“When my son gets up to dance with us, he becomes something completely different to his everyday self. He’s present.”

It’s been a few years of change for journalist Wilhelmina. She transitioned from reporting for Newshub and Today FM to running her own media company. But one thing has stayed consistent – her passion for her role as a BCC ambassador.

“It’s wonderful to be part of something that brings light to a topic that can otherwise be so dark,” she says.

“While there’s so much talk about when it comes to treatment after the diagnosis, what’s really important is prevention – not just for the health of the individual, but for alleviating the pressure on our healthcare system.”

She’s got personal experience of the success an early diagnosis makes. Her dad Rene beat liver cancer thanks to an organ transplant when she was 19.

“When your parent tells you they have cancer, you suddenly realise that life’s not infinite,” she reflects.

“We were very lucky. I know not everyone has that same journey because they have a late diagnosis. While I don’t have any immediate family who have been affected by breast cancer, there’s a cancer connection.”

While Wilhelmina, 35, loves that BCC’s enduring T-shirt campaign is about “fashion, fun, getting dressed up and feeling good,” she reinforces an important point. Every designer item sold goes directly to raise money for research.

“Breast cancer research goes hand in hand with research for other types of cancer as well. If we work collaboratively, then collectively we get closer to coming up with a cure for all cancers.”

Breast Cancer Cure tees go on sale from 7am Tuesday at breastcancercure.org.nz.