I am delighted to inform you that the first BALI PINK RIBBON WALK on Friday - 8 May 2009 in Nusa Dua was a great success ... beyond BIWA Board expectation. We not only raise the awareness but also raise the funds almost Rp. 100 mils but only around Rp. 80 mils in hand after deducted for 700 fabulous pink T-Shirt, printing material (fliers, posters, envelopes, papers), media, goodie bags, pins etc. Some donation still on the way and we have the best Treasurer - Madam Gerda Van Den Berghe (the iron lady), she make sure all the money in good hand.
Bali Pink Ribbon Walk attended by around 400 people, not including children, British Embassy delegation, 3 groups of expatriates special flown to the island of paradise Bali to support the event. Participate by lots of teachers & parents from Australian International School, Bali International School, Canggu Club team, beautiful & young people from hotels industry, Australian tourist coming down all the way from Ubud, Kerobokan, Seminyak, Kuta, American & British tourist from Nusa Dua hotels area, local & expatriates community in Bali, 31 BUMN (Indonesian own companies) employees etc.
Myself & Gerda got lots of kisses & big hug from 'male' walkers to show their joy to see that BIWA finally can put the "pink T-shirt" on to male walkers...!! The pink ribbon available that afternoon to write and hang in a special place as a memorable notes for the love ones who passaway because of breast cancer, it was an emotional view to see.
This event an eyes opening for many people, government high ranking officers including madam Governor of Bali, others social organizations keep calling each others now ... wanted to do the same goal ... to have a new mammogram machine for Bali. In Bali at the moment we only have 1 mammogram machine around 25 years old ..!! For Bali at least we need 4 mammogram machines ... praise the Lord if we can get one soon. So please keep "walking" ... keep talking ... keep looking ... more money/funds .... until we get a new mammogram machine for Bali, for the needy people.
The success of the event, impossible for me & other board members to achieved without the support from Bali Development Corporation (BTDC) - they spent almost Rp 22 mils for promote the event, Perhimpunan Humas Bali (Bali Hotels PR Association), Gaye Warran as the Event Coordinator, Nicole Moja to assist all of us, Purnama Yanti the PR from BTDC, Sugeng Purnomo the Chairman of Bali Hotels PR Association, all five star rated hotels in Nusa Dua, volunteers, generous sponsors, and kind hearted people ...
The media coverage from local & national newspaper and television such as; Bali Post, Jakarta Post, Bisnis Indonesia, Nusa Bali, The Bali Times, Radar Bali, Fajar Bali, Bali Advertiser, Metro TV, Bali TV, Dewata TV, Trans TV, The Beat, British Chamber E-Fliers, Bali & Beyond, NOW! Bali, the famous Jack Daniels, Australian TV, Bisnis Bali etc. too many too mention. Thank you.
Gaye & Nicole are the breast cancer survivors, I feel ashamed sometime to myself, not have enough fighting spirit as great as both of them. They works nights and days ... keep calling ... keep emailing thousand of people to support this event. Mind you ... both of them are expatriates and trying so hard to help the local people to raise the awareness & funds in order for us not to suffer and do not have to experience that painful and scary illness. Gaye & Nicole are lucky people, they could effort the proper treatment. Sorry to say ... both of them almost die, but the Lord gave both of them a chance to help the needy people, to have longer and beautiful life. Gaye & Nicole ... from the bottom of my heart & BIWA board members and others, please accept my sincere gratitude and appreciation.
Some people calling to show their regret that unable to attend the event including Dutch Ambassador came to Gerda office to said apology, some gave small donation to Gerda after the event etc. BIWA accept it all with open heart, like Mother Theresa said; "We can do no great things, only small things with great love. It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing."
THANK YOU once again to all of you, and Gerda said; not too much thank you ... not healthy ... and if one of the board members keep saying thank you again, we must put Rp. 5.000 each in the table for the fine.
For sure next year - 2010 we will try to make the second BALI PINK RIBBON WALK bigger with longer time preparation for a better result.
Please find enclosed the self-explanatory letters, comments that we received from Bali Pink Ribbon Walk event for your perusal.
Best regards, Melly St. Ange - BIWA President 2009.
Social Welfare
