MANLY BEACH TURNS PINK FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
31/10/2026
Two hundred owomen in matching pink active wear gathered at Manly Beach on Saturday 31st October for Pink With Purpose—a morning of movement, connection and fundraising for Breast Cancer Trials, culminating in the creation of a human heart on the beach, inspired by local mum Bec’s remarkable breast cancer story.
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE WHY
Bec Bonar, a single mum of two girls and primary school teacher, found a small, hard lump in July this year, despite a clear mammogram only months earlier. Further imaging initially appeared to show calcification, but a reviewing doctor was not comfortable signing it off and requested a biopsy. It revealed high-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), involving more than half her left breast.
Her surgeon called it “the find of the year.” Then came an extraordinary connection: Bec’s father, a breast cancer surgeon, had died just eight months earlier. When her surgeon added, “Someone has been looking out for you,” Bec immediately thought of her dad.
Luckily, the cancer was found before becoming invasive or reaching her lymph nodes, but the situation was urgent: within a week Bec had a double mastectomy, followed by a second operation to clear margins.
Her experience made Bec realise how little attention busy women can give themselves while spending so much of their lives caring for everyone else.
“As mothers, we know our children’s every mood and change. We rarely extend that same attention to ourselves,” Bec says. “Know what’s normal for you and take it seriously when something isn’t.”
Bec’s message is clear: breast cancer can affect anyone. She encourages women to understand their breast density, know what is normal for their bodies and have any changes or concerns checked promptly.
A COMMUNITY WITH PURPOSE
Bec’s experience deeply affected close friend Rachel White and Rachel’s 25-year-old daughter Emily, founder of ZYLA Active, whose grandmother also survived breast cancer.
Emily created ZYLA to stand for more than activewear, building a community around movement, confidence and connection, while using the brand to give back and make a genuine difference.
Emily has been the driving force behind Pink With Purpose, turning one friend’s deeply personal experience into a growing movement of women coming together for other women. ZYLA donated the event’s activewear, helping ensure the money raised went directly to Breast Cancer Trials.
Emily joined forces with her friends Zoe and Anna from Brain of a Dietitian (BOAD) as key partners in bringing Pink With Purpose to life. BOAD is a Sydney-based, dietitian-led business focused on making nutrition practical, personalised and accessible, with experience across chronic disease, rehabilitation, disability and oncology.
The same philosophy of women looking after themselves and each other sits behind Pink With Purpose’s Major Partner Get Balanced Retreats, created by Emily, Anna and Zoe.
100% FOR BREAST CANCER TRIALS
Thanks to ZYLA donating the activewear, BOAD donating the nourishing breakfast, and generous sponsors and partners, 100% of funds raised through ticket sales, personal fundraising, donations, the live auction and goodie bags has been donated to Breast Cancer Trials.
Pink With Purpose was proudly supported by an incredible group of Northern Beaches businesses including Zyla Active, Brain of a Dietician, Bombora Pavilion, Get Balanced Retreats, JS Health, Laundry Lane, Elysium Manly, True Protein, Positive Energy and Glenayr Farm.
Contact: BCT Media & PR Lead, Sara McGregor – sara.mcgregor@bctrials.org.au
Our life-saving breast cancer research is only possible thanks to the continued generosity of our supporters.