With Breast Cancer Awareness Month just around the corner, supporters gathered at the Heritage Center for a Kickoff Celebration to gear up for the local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk taking place at 9 a.m. on Oct. 21 at Riverside Park. This year’s walk is presented by Florida Cancer Specialists and Florida Healthcare Specialists and chaired by Dr. Daniel Glotzer.
At last Wednesday’s Kickoff Celebration, creative and dynamic fundraising ideas were provided to team leaders and inspirational speakers emphasized the importance of the initiative by sharing their own personal experiences.
Each October, individuals and teams from businesses, organizations and neighborhoods join more than 300 communities nationwide to raise funds in support of American Cancer Society efforts to save lives through breast cancer research, education, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Indian River County participants in last year’s MSABC – an at-your-own-pace noncompetitive walk – raised $120,000 to help rid the world of this devastating disease.
Demonstrating their pink-powered support to their mothers, sisters, wives and women everywhere who have been touched by breast cancer, a group of prominent Indian River County men have stepped up to the plate to participate in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign.
This year’s Real Men, who were announced at the Oceanside Business Association’s Sunset Saturday Night Concert, are: Victor Basile, Dr. Hal Brown, VBPD Chief David Currey, Maj. Eric Flowers, Jason Frandsen, Tim Girard, Jonathan Hardie, Aaron Johnson, Matt Marcorelle, David Nolte, Nick Novak, IRC Commissioner Peter O’Bryan, Dr. Raj Rajpara, School Superintendent Mark Rendell, Harold Schwartz, Alex Soares and Andy White.
According to Theresa Woodson, ACS Treasure Coast senior market manager, each has been challenged to raise a minimum of $2,500 for MSABC and some are planning to do so in rather creative fashion. For instance, Maj. Eric Flowers has ordered authentic pink deputy badges, which fellow IRC Sheriff’s Office deputies can purchase and wear during the month of October.
“So they raise money and also bring awareness, which is a very important part of this,” said Woodson.
American Cancer Society statistics estimate that close to 253,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Tragically, an estimated 40,610 will lose their battle with the disease; the second leading cause of cancer death in women.
For more information visit MakingStridesWalk.org/indianriverfl or Making StridesWalk.org/realmenindianrivercofl or call 772-562-2272.
