In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Creation Wines is proud to be hosting a special Pink Tasting on Saturday 27 October – with the full ticket cost to be donated to the non-profit organization, Reach for Recovery, for their Ditto Project.

Launched in 2011, The Ditto Project has provided a total of 5,024 silicone prostheses costing more than R3,1 million to women who could not afford one. “The Ditto Project aims to help women recover their self-confidence, giving them access to high-quality silicone breast prostheses, also assisting them – through local branches of Reach for Recovery – to ensure they choose the correct shape and size for their body,” says Stephné Jacobs, Chairperson of Reach for Recovery.

Guest speaker at the Pink Tasting is Doctor Justus Apffelstaedt, a specialist Breast Cancer surgeon and former Head of the Head, Neck and Breast Cancer Unit at Tygerberg Hospital.

"Reach for Recovery and I share the same belief: that all women should have the same access to care, regardless of whether they can afford it,” says Dr Apffelstaedt, who supports the NPO in its fundraising efforts by speaking at corporate and social events and donating his full speaker fees to the cause.

His talk at Creation Wines will discuss the correlation between the downscaling of Breast Cancer therapy and the preservation of quality of life as well as his work with the Ditto Project. “Women facing breast cancer must be treated with dignity. Medical science empowers holistic treatment options that make quality of life a priority,” says Apffelstaedt.

“Having a mastectomy leads to a tier of decision making regarding whether to have surgical reconstruction, wear an external breast prosthesis, or not wear anything at all to replace the amputated breast,” says Stephanie van Deventer, national manager of Reach for Recovery. “External breast prosthesis may be the best option a woman has, especially if she cannot afford to, or chooses not to undergo reconstructive surgery. However, not all patients can afford the cost of a permanent prosthesis. The reality is that many breast cancer patients in South Africa cannot even afford a bra, let alone a breast prosthesis.”

“Reach for Recovery wants to help these women who come from low income groups to feel confident again after the traumatic diagnoses and surgery, says Dr Apffelstaedt. “We believe that a breast prosthesis is an important step in her recovery, especially to those women from communities where a there is still a stigma attached to a cancer diagnosis. A more natural appearance with a breast prosthesis, together with the emotional support that she can continue to receive from Reach for Recovery volunteers through support groups, will help her to return to her place of employment and continue to provide for her family.”

“As a woman, this is a cause close to my heart and I believe we should all do our part to support initiatives such as this. Together with Dr Apffelstaedt, Creation is thrilled to be supporting Reach for Recovery’s Ditto Project by donating the full ticket cost to the cause,” says Carolyn Martin, who co-established Creation Wines in 2002 alongside her husband, Jean-Claude.

The Pink Ladies tasting will take place from 10:00 to 12:00 and costs R150 per person which includes sparkling wine and breakfast canapés.

To book, contact Salome before 25 October on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 028 212 1107.