Last week, Nitto Denko Australia hosted a high tea event at their new headquarters in Scoresby, where the team handed over a donation of $115,000 (+GST) to McGrath Foundation.

McGrath Foundation’s Ambassador & Director, Tracy Bevan attended the event to receive the cheque and meet Nitto staff. The event follows Nitto’s announcement in September 2017 that the company would become an official partner of the Foundation. 

To celebrate the partnership, Nitto released their popular General Purpose Electrical tape in Pink, with $2 from every pack sold going to the Foundation. Tracy gave a speech that shared the charity’s history from Jane and Glenn McGrath’s very public experience with breast cancer, to becoming one of Australia’s most recognised and respected charities. Tracy’s heartfelt speech told the story of her best friend, Jane’s diagnosis and her incredible resolve in the face of the disease. Tracy gave insight into Jane’s experience and her commitment to not let breast cancer define her. 

Some years after her initial diagnosis, Jane’s cancer returned. This time she was fortunate enough to have access to a breast care nurse. Tracy described the moment Jane called her to tell her about her first encounter with the nurse, stating; “I got a call and Jane said: I have met an angel”. The angel Jane was referring to was Alison, a nurse that she described as like “having someone to hold my hand through the worst nightmares of my life”. Tracy described how Jane felt she could discuss her condition with Alison and she could ask the questions that she did not even feel comfortable to ask a GP. It was Alison and the care that she provided that set the mission for the Foundation, which has become an enduring commitment to support thousands of women and men every day, no matter where they live – for free. 

Nitto’s donation will go towards funding specialist McGrath Breast Care Nurses, who help individuals and their families affected by breast cancer by providing invaluable physical, psychological and emotional support, from the time of diagnosis and throughout treatment. This support is available right across Australia – for free. “Without the support of companies like Nitto, McGrath Foundation simply cannot do what we do,” Tracy said. 

Pink Tape joins a list of products to turn pink to raise awareness of the Foundation and corporate partners such as Cricket Australia, BP and IGA that support McGrath Foundation. Tracy even described the excitement she and Jane felt when they first saw a product, a Masterfoods ketchup bottle, in their hot pink, adding “seeing you all here today wearing pink really means the world to me,” while chatting with Nitto staff. 

Nitto Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Finn said, “Nitto is honoured to partner with such a wonderful cause and we appreciate Tracy coming out to share her inspiring story with our team. Today’s event was a real milestone for Nitto in our ongoing commitment to raise awareness of Australian charities.” 

To promote the partnership, Nitto launched a campaign encouraging their customers around Australia to head to Bunnings, pick up a pack of Pink Tape and play backyard cricket using a tape ball. A plethora of cricket fans joined in the campaign online by wrapping a tennis ball in pink tape and uploading their backyard cricket matches to social media throughout summer. Bunnings staff showed their support by wearing pink and some stores even played cricket matches in store to raise awareness of the campaign. 

Nitto’s Sales and Marketing Director, Ben Mitchell said; “Traditionally backyard cricket is played with a tennis ball wrapped in PVC electrical tape to add weight, speed and swing to the ball. Partnering with McGrath Foundation was a great opportunity to raise awareness of the charity using this fun, family activity. The dream was to turn backyard cricket pink across Australia this summer and with the support we received from McGrath Foundation, Bunnings and Nitto staff, we were able to make this dream a reality”. 

The partnership with McGrath Foundation is part of Nitto’s commitment to raising awareness of Australian charities and worthy causes through associating each colour of their electrical tape range with a charity or cause.