Pink Jacket Salute
Olivia Newton-John joins New Idea’s Pink Jacket Salute campaign to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer
Οlivia Newton-John’s glowing with health as our exclusive pictures of Australia’s favourite songbird reveal. The singer is approaching her 59th birthday totally cancer-free, and she’s extremely eager to support other women fighting breast cancer by spearheading New Idea’s innovative Pink Jacket Salute campaign.
Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago, but she went on to beat it and now actively raises money and awareness for the cause.
That’s why she’s donning the jacket for New Idea’s Salute project. In the lead-up to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, New Idea will feature a celebrity in a pink jacket each week to highlight this very important cause.
The Pink Jacket Salute project, shot by celebrity photographer Stu Spence, will honour each of the 13,000 women and 95 men who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Most Australians have been touched by the illness in some way.
New Idea Editor-in-Chief Robyn Foyster reveals: “My own mother Jacqueline has undergone a double mastectomy and is now in remission. We’re delighted that Olivia is helping spearhead this very important campaign.”
“In fact, Olivia and Belinda Emmett helped us to launch our New Idea Breast Cancer Fund in 1998, which has raised more than $1 million for breast cancer.” Stu says of the photo shoot: “I was only supposed to have a short time with Olivia. But she was in the mood to have some fun, and time escaped us. We ended up spending some quality time together, with some fabulous pictures as a result.”
Olivia Newton-John exclusively reveals to New Idea's Leigh Reinhold the inner strength she relies on to get through the tough times
When Olivia Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago she decided to fight with everything she had.
“My friend Nancy once told me that I would set the tone for how everyone else would behave by the way I handled my cancer,” Olivia says. “So I only wanted to hear the positive - no tears, only reinforcement that I’d get well.”
Olivia, patron of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre at Austin Health in Melbourne, is actually thankful for her ‘cancer experience’ - she says it’s made her the woman she is. “I believe that we are what we think-I choose to see the bright side of life as much as possible.”
“I’m grateful for having this experience as it’s given me more understanding and compassion.”
Unbeknown to the Grease star, this life knowledge was also steeling her for future pain. Her daughter Chloe - just six years old when her mum fell ill-has fought her own health battle.
While watching Olivia deal with her cancer, Chloe, now 21, developed anorexia and she later attributed it to the stress of her mum’s cancer ordeal. It’s only now Chloe’s making a recovery.
“Everyone’s touched by cancer when a loved one is diagnosed,” Olivia says. “But Chloe’s fantastic she’s doing well.”
Olivia, whose latest CD Grace and Gratitude can be downloaded from iTunes, is encouraging her child to step into the limelight as a singer in her own right.
“Chloe’s music is so wonderful. I’m so proud of her. Her songs are special she wrote them all,” the proud mum says.
Olivia had to call on her strength reserves again recently when her long-time boyfriend Patrick McDermott mysteriously disappeared while on a fishing trip in California in June 2005. He has never been found.
“Although my last challenge was one of the most painful I have ever endured, even in my saddest moments I’ve always believed deep down that I would get through it. The little voice was there guiding me through, keeping me working towards healing,” Olivia says. It’s this positive visualisation that was a central part of Olivia’s recovery and an intrinsic part of her holistic attitude to health.
Olivia believes in treating the whole person, not just the illness.
“I also believe in the mental component to illness - when your immune system is compromised you can’t fight cancer cells,” she says. “One doctor I knew used to say: “It’s not what you eat, it’s what’s eating you.”
That’s why Olivia is so excited about the wellbeing centre that’s being created at Austin Health.
“It aims to help people through cancer with complementary therapies to support their spirit and mind and healing-therapies such as yoga, massage, a peaceful place to have a cup of tea, pray, meditate or practise whatever it is that calms you,” she reveals.
“It will be a place like I dreamt of having when I had cancer -a tranquil place of wellbeing.”
The fundraising appeal for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, which opens in 2010, is well underway with $45 million already raised. And the star says no donation is too small.
“The work Austin Health is doing, in collaboration with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, is exciting, but we’re still far from a cure,” she says.
“I dream of prevention.” Olivia says once a diagnosis is made, positive action should be taken to focus on getting well.
“It’s draining for patients to constantly talk about it. Life becomes cancer and they need to focus on healing.”
Let's Beat Breast Cancer
To donate to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre building fund, visit www.oliviaappeal.com. To donate to the New Idea Breast Cancer Fund, visit www.newidea.com.au, or write a cheque to Melbourne Community Foundation New Idea Breast Cancer Fund and send it to New Idea Breast Cancer Fund, Suite 6, 19-35 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, Vic 3065.