Around £25,000 was raised as part of the Turn Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) Pink campaign, the health board has announced.
On Friday, October 4, ABUHB staff, businesses, schools, GP surgeries and even mother and toddler groups, among others, helped ‘Turn Caerphilly Pink’.
People held cake sales, raffles, craft stalls, fitness events and even decorated their high streets.
Caerphilly Castle, the bandstand in Caerphilly town centre and Blackwood Miners’ Institute were among the monuments decorated in pink to raise money for a new breast care unit in Ystrad Mynach.
The new unit, which is being funded by the health board, is set to open in late 2020 in Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr.
Voluntary group, ‘The Friends of ABUHB Breast Unit’, has been set up to help the health board raise the £200,000 needed to fund the unit.
The group aims to raise funds for the additional facilities the NHS is unable to provide.
Around 1,000 pink t-shirts were sold to raise funds for the cause, which coincided with Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout October.
Meanwhile, Ystrad Mynach resident Andrew Berry raised funds through a sponsored leg shave.
Emma Wilkins, fundraising manager for breast services at ABUHB, said: “The number of people getting involved in raising money for our new breast unit makes you realise just how amazing the community is and how passionate the health board staff are to ensure much needed funds are raised to provide the new breast unit with the best environment to treat our patients.
“It is thanks to their tireless efforts that they made this happen and we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved.
“It’s also thanks to the community, without their support and participation this wouldn’t have been the success it has been.”
Ms Wilkins also thanked Hefin David AM, Cllr Jamie Pritchard and Cllr James Fussell for their help setting up fundraising events.
Meanwhile, a breast cancer support group is meeting up every Monday from 12pm to 2pm at Lewis Girls’ School in Ystrad Mynach. The sessions are free to attend and offer people the chance to make jewellery, cards, and other crafts.
Anyone interested in attending the support group or fundraising for the breast unit can contact Ms Wilkins on 07970 889931 or email her at Emma.wilkins5@wales.nhs.uk.