WHAT does a pink rubber duck has to do with breast cancer awareness? It conveys the important message: Don't duck a breast exam.
And the pink mascot was in abundance at the launch of the "Bid for Celebrity Ducks Fund Raiser".
The launch was emceed by PJ Live Arts executive producer Teri Choong, a breast cancer survivor herself.
Themed "Passionately Pink-Know. Prevent. Cure", the two-month fundraiser and public service campaign is organised in aid of the Breast Cancer Community Treatment Pro-gramme at the Assunta Hospital, Petaling Jaya.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of a disease that too many women are ashamed of or unaware of the prevention measures.
In his speech, Jaya One executive director Charles Wong urged the public to spread the word and take part in the awareness campaign.
"With this campaign, we hope to raise more than RM100,000 to fund the Breast Cancer Community Treatment Programme at the hopsital."
Assunta Hospital chief executive officer Choy Wah Wei said since the launch on Aug 14, the hospital had received donations up to RM45,000 that would be used to treat breast cancer patients.
"It is a devastating disease and a major cause of death among women," he said, adding that the campaign also celebrates the fighting spirit of breast cancer survivors.
PJ Live Arts artistic director Datuk Zahim Albakri said it was evident that PJ Live Arts and Assunta Hospital shared the same goal to spread the message of giving to the community in need.
"Passionately Pink serves as a platform to prepare us for the future in our own vision to serve the community through the formation of our not-for-profit Live Arts Foundation in the coming months," he said, while urging everyone to bid for his duck.
"It took me two nights to design it. Thanks to my friend who has a collection of semi-precious gemstones, I decorated it with rose quartz and moonstones as well as some feathers," he said.
TV personality Daphne Iking, who was pleased to contribute to the cause, urged everyone to buy the undecorated pink rubber ducks that were sold for RM10 each.
"I'm a science stream student, I'm not an arty person but the sincerity is there (when she designs the duck).
"When I was designing it last night, my mum who's a nurse, asked me to persuade my father to go for a medical checkup," she said, adding that one of her immediate family member was diagnosed with cancer.
"Some people do not go for a checkup, whether it's out of fear or ignorance. Plus, 1 per cent of men do suffer from breast cancer and I do advice my male friends and colleagues to go for an exam," she said.
Actor Edwin Sumun was disappointed that all the three ducks he decorated was lost during delivery but he plans to design another one.
"I'll call it "Duckto" (a play on the word "datuk") and copyright it," he said.
On a more serious tone, he added that for him, this campaign is more about cancer awareness as he personally knows some cancer patients and survivors.
"As cliched as it sounds, what's 10 minutes to a lifetime? Just a simple 10-minute mammogram is all that's needed. For both men and women," he said.
Compared with some of the more flamboyant designs, the duck designed by actress Liza Othman is more simple as she wants the messages it carries - "Don't duck a breast exam" and "It's better to know than not" - to stand out instead.
To check out the celebrity ducks, head to the Passionately Pink Gallery at Palm Square, Jaya One.
Other ducks on display at the gallery were designed by model and actress Amber Chia (she's the official spokesman for Passionately Pink) and fashion designer Bernard Chandran.
There will be a host of other Passionately Pink community events every Saturday and Sunday at Jaya One from Sept 20 till Nov 8. Among the activities are free clinical breast exams, cooking workshops and bake sales, music performances, holistic and wellness workshops, beauty makeover workshops and counselling.
Caregivers of breast cancer patients can attend the "Support You, Support Me" counselling sessions that provide support for overlooked groups like men who know women with breast cancer and help them understand and manage their roles better.
The sessions will be conducted by doctors, psychologists, breast cancer survivors and caregivers.
For details about the campaign or to make a contribution, call the Passionately Pink hotline: 03-7628 3883.
