For Kiwi company Post Haste, its charity work for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ hits close to home.
The courier company has partnered with Breast Cancer Foundation NZ for the past 15 years to provide significantly discounted delivery services to help the charity get much-needed care packs and Pink Ribbon Breakfast host kits out to the public.
In 2022, Post Haste, which is part of the Freightways Group, increased its level of support to provide courier services completely free of charge for the Breast Cancer Foundation’s Pink Ribbon Breakfast campaign.
“Through the Covid years, it became clear how badly affected not-for-profit organisations were from declining financial support,” Post Haste national sales manager Stacey Collis says.
“We thought it would be a little bit of extra help for the foundation and a great way to give to a very worthy cause.”
Post Haste courier drivers have delivered nearly 13,000 personalised Pink Ribbon Breakfast host kits containing sponsors’ goodies, educational material and decorations free of charge since 2022. Since then, they’ve seen the number of fundraising breakfasts increase.
“This year we delivered more than double the number of host kits compared to 2022 – some even as far as Great Barrier Island. If there’s someone willing to host a breakfast and raise funds for this cause, we do our best to get them their kit,” Collis says.
More than $3.6 million was raised through the Pink Ribbon Breakfasts in 2024 alone to help fund education, research and patient support.
One in nine Kiwi women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and 650 women in New Zealand die from the disease every year. Across the Freightways Group, many have been affected.
“The cause is quite personal to us,” Collis says.
One Freightways and Post Haste team member who knows the harrowing effects first-hand is cancer survivor Kelly Smythe.
Smythe, 46, was diagnosed with breast cancer midway through 2021. The cancer was aggressive, and she underwent surgery 10 days after her diagnosis followed by 20 weeks of chemotherapy and daily radiation.
And it’s not over. She continues to take medication and has another bout of surgery to go. “It has been a bit of a journey, but one that has taught me a lot,” Smythe says.
She’s now back with the Freightways team, working reduced hours for more work-life balance and juggling her role as a mum of two teenagers.
“I am so thankful that I had the support of my Freightways family throughout this journey. I will be forever grateful for their continued love and support,” Smythe says.
Post Haste also supports mental health organisation I am Hope.
