Drive through the Inner West this October and you'll notice something different. Our signboards have gone pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It's not subtle, and that's the point. One in seven Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by age 85. For every new campaign we launch this month, Adrian William is donating $500 to Chris O'Brien Lifehouse – right here in the Inner West.
Chris O'Brien Lifehouse sits in Camperdown, less than 10 minutes from Newtown. It's where our neighbours go for treatment. Where local families navigate diagnosis and chemo. The hospital itself supports nearly 60,000 patients every year, and as a not-for-profit, every dollar donated goes directly back into patient care, covering treatment costs and reducing financial barriers for families already doing it tough.
For many of us at Adrian William, this cause hits close to home.
Our General Manager, Leilani Shephard, watched her grandmother fight and beat late-stage breast cancer as a child. "Breast cancer isn't just a disease that affects your health," Leilani explains. "It's a catalyst for dramatic changes to identity, self-perception, and your relationship with your body. Women deserve to live in their bodies without fear that one of the most intimate parts might be taken away."
Phoebe Bressick, our Executive Assistant, grew up with her grandmother after her mastectomy. "Growing up with my Granny after her mastectomy, I never thought of her as different – I just thought she looked unique," Phoebe says. "Only later did I understand what she'd been through. How much family and community mattered during that time."
That sense of support resonates across the team. Michael White, Real Estate Agent at Adrian William, has also faced cancer within his family. “Cancer impacts families in ways you don’t expect, and almost everyone knows someone who has faced it. What helps most is the community rallying around you. Whether it’s cooked dinners, handwritten notes, or simply knowing people have your back. Those small gestures ease the burden and remind you that you’re not alone.”
That's what our pink signboards are about. From Newtown to Canterbury, they serve as reminders that breast cancer awareness belongs in our everyday spaces. Right here, in the streets where we live. Where we raise families. Where we pass by on our morning commute.
Each signboard carries a QR code. Scan it, and you'll land on our donation page where you can contribute directly to Chris O'Brien Lifehouse. Whether it's $10 or $100, it adds up. It helps someone in Marrickville access treatment. It supports a family in Dulwich Hill during the hardest weeks of their lives.
"I'm so pleased to see Adrian William joining the fight against a disease that more than 20,000 Australians will be diagnosed with every year," Leilani notes. "Every dollar raised is a step closer to a cure. It can't be found without each of us doing our part."
As real estate agents, we’re privileged to walk alongside families during some of life’s biggest milestones. We see firsthand how health challenges affect plans for the future, including housing decisions and financial planning. Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month is one way we can extend that care beyond property – by contributing to the wellbeing of the families who make up our community.
"Breast cancer has touched the lives of so many women we know: mothers, grandmothers, daughters, friends, and colleagues," explains Jessica Hurley, Adrian William's Operations Manager. "We hope the signboards act as a visual symbol, sparking awareness and showing that our community stands together with women and families impacted by breast cancer."
See a pink signboard? Scan the QR code and donate. Book that overdue check-up. Text a friend who needs the reminder.
Small acts, real impact.