Australian fashion retailer Witchery and Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) is launching their eleventh annual White Shirt Campaign today.
‘The Witchery White Shirt Campaign is one that I have been following for many years and I was thrilled to be approached to be part of this year’s campaign.’ Ambassador Anna Heinrich tells WHO. We sat down with Anna to find out more about the campaign.
Watch: Anna Heinrich and other ambassadors of Witchery x OCRF tell us why the campaign is so important to them.
Tell us a bit about the Witchery x OCRF Campaign?
This year marks Witchery’s 11th White Shirt Campaign in partnership with the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) and I am so grateful to be involved as an ambassador for 2019. The Witchery White Shirt campaign’s mission is to raise funds for the development of an early detection test that will save women’s lives. For every White Shirt sold, Witchery will donate 100% of the gross proceeds to the OCRF. The collection of white shirts will be available to shop online and in Witchery stores from 11 April to 8 May 2019.
OCRF raises money for Ovarian Cancer Research. Why is this research so important?
There are so many reasons! One woman dies in Australia every 8 hours from ovarian cancer. That horrifies me.
Other facts I have learnt that everyone should know include; that there is no early detection test, early stages of ovarian cancer have no obvious symptoms resulting in most women being diagnosed in the advanced stages, over 50% of the community incorrectly believe a pap smear diagnoses ovarian cancer and when detected and treated early, 80-100% of women will survive beyond five years compared with only 20-30% when diagnosed at a late stage.
How did the ambassador role come about?
The Witchery White Shirt Campaign is one that I have been following for many years and I was thrilled to be approached to be part of this year’s campaign. Knowing that I may have helped in some way to assist the OCRF in developing an early detection test would be an amazing moment.
How did the campaign shoot go? What other celebrities are involved with this year’s campaign?
The shoot was incredible – I went through so many emotions and even thinking about it now, I am still so moved by the experience.
I was fortunate to meet Leane Flynn, an OCRF Ambassador who was also there to shoot the campaign. The difference between myself and Leane was that Leane had ovarian cancer and was going through treatment for the disease for a second time. She is a beautiful mother of three girls and I felt that her family was so similar to mine, me being one of three girls. Meeting Leane made everything so much more real and it was hard not to shed a tear in the process.
I am alongside an incredible suite of ambassadors this year for the White Shirt campaign, including the Hon. Julie Bishop, Jessica McNamee and a couple of other amazing women to be announced shortly.
Which white shirt is your favourite from the collection?
I love them all but the one I wore for the campaign shoot is such a classic style and can easily be dressed up or down. A stylish jacket and jeans would work perfectly. A white shirt should be a staple in every wardrobe!
Witchery’s White Shirt Day is Wednesday 8 May, 2019
#whiteshirtcampaign
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