Qantas has launched its 2019 FlyPink Campaign ‘everyone knows someone’ today with the inaugural flight on QantasLink’s QF2164 from Sydney to Port Macquarie.
The launch flight kicked off the month-long fundraising and awareness campaign in partnership with Movember and the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to improve treatments and outcomes for people diagnosed with breast and prostate cancer.
This year’s theme recognises that everyone knows someone whose life has been affected by cancer in one way or another and the goal is to raise $100,000 with equal funds going to Movember and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Where it all began…
QantasLink Captain, Susan McHaffie started FlyPink in 2015 with the aim to raise $20,000 for breast cancer research. Since then, FlyPink has raised an astounding $500,000 for the NBCF, Movember and affiliated overseas charities.
* ROARING APPLAUSE *
Inspired by her aunt’s battle with breast cancer, Susan heads up the initiative in her own time and overcame her own battle with the disease in 2016.
“As we launch FlyPink for the 5th year, we have spent a lot of time reflecting on who within our own communities and networks have been affected. We recognise and support the people who support us through it – for me, this was my family, friends and co-workers at QantasLink. We’re flying pink for them.”
Susan McHaffie, FlyPink founder & breast cancer survivor.
The #WeFlyPink movement
Each year, epaulettes are sent to pilots around the world, including pilots in 35 countries flying for over 160 different airlines.
Throughout the month pins are sold to members of the public and Qantas staff, with pilots encouraged to donate before switching their white epaulettes to pink ones for the month.
This year’s pin design includes the NBCF pink ribbon combined with the iconic Movember moustache after FlyPink ‘grew a mo’ last year to extend its fundraising reach.
All of the operating crew on the launch flight, including the pilots and flight attendants, are cancer survivors. Customers onboard were treated to a pink ‘watermelon juice’ and pink snack and a performance from 2019 ‘Voice’ contestant Natasha Stuart.
FlyPink is a great opportunity to stop and look at the people sitting amongst us – many who’ve experienced their own journey, both publicly and privately, with cancer.
John Gissing, QantasLink CEO
Click here to find out more and click here to donate.