A Flight of Fancy with Annah Stretton and Friends prepares for touchdown
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A Flight of Fancy with Annah Stretton and Friends prepares for touchdown

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A Flight of Fancy with Annah Stretton and Friends prepares for touchdown

Words can empower action, even when you least expect it, and A Flight of Fancy might just be your opportunity. That was certainly the case for fashion designer, entrepreneur and philanthropist Annah Stretton recently. 


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As a guest speaker for a Project Mammogram fundraising event in Tairua on September 26, Annah listened to Whitianga Lions Project chairperson Mike Brown talking about better outcomes from early detection through regular 3D mammograms. It jolted Annah as she realised it had been 10 years since her last 2D mammogram! And yet, Annah has given a significant amount of her life to promoting breast cancer prevention and supporting women diagnosed with breast cancer.   

Mammogram sorted, she is now committed to helping Whitianga and Mercury Bay Lions raise the final $20,000 for Project Mammogram – to buy a 3D mammogram machine for the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Flight on Fancy Whitianga event

On November 14 you can join Annah Stretton and Friends at Whitianga’s Coro Club for A Flight of Fancy, a glamorous evening hosted by renowned New Zealand comedian Michèle A’Court. 

The ‘flight’ will include onboard complementary nibbles with bar service available, a fashion show of Annah’s new summer collection, Project Mammogram update and question time, and a personal interview with Annah conducted by her daughter Sami, which she hopes will empower guests to lead their best lives.

There will also be a selection of raffles and auctions with some very exciting prizes to be won.

Annah Stretton and supporting Cancer Organisations

Annah says in the early days of establishing her brand, she realised that any of the women who bought her beautiful frocks might privately be dealing with breast cancer.

“For a long time I’ve worked in my business where we are very female focussed and breast cancer is certainly a disease that connects with a lot of women. There are not many people that haven’t been connected with it in some way, supported or endured it. I’ve certainly got connection through girlfriends, friends, and customers instore and staff.”

Through her business Annah knew she could make a difference in a charitable space and she offered her support on a national level to organisations, as well as working with the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust.  It led to a diverse range of fundraising initiatives from fashion shows to breast cancer awareness t-shirts. 

“A lot of that was with the bigger charities out of Auckland. You had the Breast Cancer Research Trust and the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Foundation has the Pink Ribbon. So we, like a lot of fashion designers in the very early days, did a lot of work in that space, then we kind of honed that into a more localised presence. I helped build the governance structure of the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust and we created an annual event, the Bejewelled Bra Ball for them to raise funds.”

As time moved on Annah took onboard ownership and editorship of In Pink, a magazine focusing on breast cancer support and she says hearing women going through treatment or remission describing their experience as “a gift” because it helped them appreciate life, was empowering. 

In 2014 Annah set up RAW (Reclaim Another Woman) which helps break the cycle for women in prison of intergenerational offending through inclusion, community and opportunity. “RAW is building hope, purpose and prosperity one woman at a time. We are creating tino rangatiratanga,” says Annah. And she says, for these women having regular mammograms is often a complicated process that gets delayed. “One of the RAW alumni is actually going through a breast cancer journey at the moment. It’s quite hard to avoid it.” 

Annah knows only too well the impact of breast cancer on the lives of women and their family and friends. She’s also aware that women in business need something to empower them during this difficult economic period, and as guest speaker for A Flight of Fancy, she can help make a long-term difference through Project Mammogram while also thanking the loyal customers who have supported her store in Whitianga over the years.  

Get tickets for A Flight of Fancy 

Tickets for A Flight of Fancy are available through the Annah Stretton store in Whitianga and at Get It On in Tairua (owned and operated by Maree Smith who hosted the previous evening with Annah Stretton on September 26). Make sure you get in quick as tickets are limited to 160 seats. Oh and the fashion show will feature 10 models showcasing daywear and swimwear.

“We rise by lifting others,” says Annah. 

Come and be inspired by her journey and let’s get that final $20,000 for Project Mammogram sorted. 

Tickets will fly out the door! So make a night of it and grab a table of eight for $440 or $59 per person, and hang onto your tickets for the lucky ticket prize!

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