October is women’s health awareness month under the Pinktober global health campaign and BSP Financial Group Limited as a responsible corporate organisation also joins others to champion this worthy cause in the community. In kicking off Pinktober and in support of Breast Cancer awareness month, BSP Staff from Corporate Banking, Treasury, Credit, BSP Capital, BSP First and the Executive Management team took part in the Pinktober walk-a thon on Saturday 1st October, 2022, from Ravalian Haus at Harbour City to Ela Beach. [caption id="attachment_27968" align="alignnone" width="1024"] . BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming (third from right) and BSP Group GM Corporate Peter Beswick (back in pink cap) with staff prior to the Pinktober walk.[/caption] BSP Corporate Banking Senior Relationship Manager Natasha Bernadette said the bank is pleased to be driving Pinktober awareness this month with planned activities which includes a free breast examination day for female staff, cancer education awareness sessions and fundraising activities which will see proceeds go to the Port Moresby General Hospital and PNG Cancer Foundation. She said according to the World Health Organisation, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer with 685, 000 deaths globally in 2020. As of the end of 2020, there were 7.8 million women alive who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the past 5 years, making it the world’s most prevalent cancer. One out of 3 deaths could’ve been prevented through early detection. [caption id="attachment_27969" align="alignnone" width="906"] BSP Staff walking along the Champion Parade road on Saturday 1st October, 2022, during the Pinktober walk.[/caption] “Our aim is to raise awareness on the importance of cancer prevention and early detection – this is important because at BSP women make up half of the 4,500 staff in PNG and the Pacific. Our staff must be equipped with knowledge to take care of themselves and their families and also be advocates in their communities, we want to help save lives. The staff and management have been so supportive of this worthy cause; their generosity means we have reached 70% of our fundraising target to-date, our aim is to raise K10,000,” Ms Bernadette said. Pinktober continues to be observed at BSP. Over the past (3) three years BSP Staff from the Asset Management and Lending Support Business Unit have raised over K31,000 through this annual fundraiser with proceedings donated to the PNG Cancer Foundation. The team is also running Pinktober fundraising activities with proceeds to go to Port Moresby General Hospital. BSP as a Corporate Organisation also supports the PNG Cancer Foundation (PNGCF) Trupla Man Outreach Prevention & Education Program. This year BSP supported the foundation’s Trupela Man program and Mausgras campaign to promote starting the conversation on men's health and cancer awareness and to push the important messages of making healthy lifestyle choices and early detection.