INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — “Get in sync and wear pink,” said an infectiously passionate Annie Grace Foster.
Foster is once again chairing the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) Walk, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 15 at the Sebastian River Medical Center.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful event,” said Emily Holliman, CEO of Sebastian River Medical Center, the Pink Premier Presenting Sponsor and host for 2011. “We’re honored to be part of it.”
Foster and MSABC honorary chair Dr. Caroline Kedem, of Vero Radiology Associates, welcomed survivors, committee members and team leaders to the Marriott Springhill Suites, for a preview party of all new things pink.
With a mischievous grin, Foster introduced the group to the American Cancer Society’s new “Put on Your Pink Bra Campaign.” The idea is to have people individually create their own fashionably fabulous pink bras as a symbol of how personal the fight against breast cancer is.
“There is nothing more personal than a bra. Some might find it quite liberating,” said Foster. “Florida thinks it’s time to do something bold to get people’s attention.”
To laughter and applause, Foster slipped her own artistically creative bra, complete with feathers and sequins, over her pink shirt.
“Don’t be surprised if you see me walking into Publix in my bra,” said Foster.
Previous top fundraisers shared the secrets of their success with the group, and Nancy Depp spoke about a new initiative to encourage early contributions.
Depp, whose team raised $6,300 last year, has been collecting great prizes and gift certificates from hotels, restaurants, golf clubs, spas, and other local businesses.
A raffle ticket will be entered into a pot for each team that raises an initial $500. For every additional $100 raised, another ticket will go into the raffle pot. Prizes will be awarded at the Making Strides Grand Kickoff Event in early August.
Participants are often inspired to walk because of a personal connection; whether as cancer survivors themselves or to honor family and friends touched by the disease.
Each year Don Reagan, wife of Highwayman artist Willie Reagan, pulls together a huge Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Team.
“I’m a six-year survivor,” said Reagan. “I walked Relay for years, and then switched to Making Strides. That’s my baby now.”
In their cheery “We Care to Wear Pink” tee-shirts, the Fire Girls team, whose members are firefighter wives and active members of Indian River County Fire Rescue, were hard to miss; and that’s the point.
The innovative team, supported by the Vero Beach Fire Fighters Association and Volunteer Fire Department, sold 700 of the colorful tee-shirts at the Indian River County Firefighter’s Fair, and have organized a fundraising luncheon and fashion show on May 18 at Costa d’Este [See VeroNews.com calendar for details].
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in Indian River County has grown considerably since its first one in 2004. The 2011 MSABC committee has set a goal of $115,000, hoping to top last year’s $111,000 figure.
MSABC is specifically dedicated to help fight breast cancer through research, prevention, early detection, and support programs for patients and their families.
For more information, call (772) 562-2272 ext. 2408 or visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline. {igallery 388}