It is often said 'from little things big things grow' this was true for the journey of the Purple Boot. It was a dinner conversation at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards where finalists Ros Worthington CEO and Founder of the Breast Cancer Foundation and the guys from Steel Blue were talking about their businesses. Peter Nichols from Steel Blue was asked if they made a female boot and in true entrepreneur style went onto describe their female boot range. Ros Worthington then asked, but do you make a purple boot for breast cancer? This question hung in the air and not 24 hours later Ros got her answer... yes, Steel Blue do make a purple boot for Breast Cancer! or they do now... Preliminary meetings were underway immediately. A week later Ros was addressing a breakfast of 'Women with a Social Conscience' and told the Purple Boot story.
Engineers Australia staff attending the breakfast saw that the opportunity to fulfil the Women in Engineering aim to work with a women's charity as part of 2007 Year of Women in Engineering. The promotion of the Purple Boot that raises awareness and funds to mitigate the risk of Breast Cancer strikes an important cord with the engineering industry where safety and risk mitigation is of the highest priority. Engineers Australia saw the Purple Boot as a great opportunity for the booming engineering industry to demonstrate their commitment to community and fulfil their corporate social responsibility.
Engineers Australia has bought to the table with Steel Blue and the Breast Cancer Foundation, link to the engineering industry both on a corporate and individual level and through their Division offices, access to the rest of the country to make the Purple Boot for Breast Cancer a truly national campaign.
Alexandra Sparvell, Manager Industry, Engineers Australia
Since the launch of the Purple Boot campaign, the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA Inc have received $200,000!