Breast Cancer Awareness Events Abound

Think pink? It might be because it’s that time of year. Pink chocolate. Pink bagels. Pink hair weaves. Pink sheets. Pink stilettos. And, of course, a boatload of pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Many businesses are in on the fight for the cure. Blackwell's Restaurant in Wading River will host its fifth annual Pink Rock Classic, a golf tournament to raise awareness and support for breast cancer patients and their families, on Oct. 6 at the Great Rock Golf Club. Proceeds from the event will be donated to The Fund For Uninsured Women at the Fortunato Breast Health Center and Breast Cancer Treatment Services at Mather Hospital.

Local Panera Bread stores will also support a cure for Breast Cancer with "Pink Ribbon Bagels." The bagels, shaped like the iconic pink ribbons, will be sold throughout October with a portion of the profits going towards breast cancer organizations. On Friday, all of the proceeds from sales of the pink ribbons will be donated.

The Southampton Chamber of Commerce will hold a with pink lights on Monday at 6:30 p.m at the Southampton Cultural Center.

Runners will walk for a cure at Crescent Beach on Shelter Island for a 5K walk to benefit the North Fork Breast Health Coalition and the Coalition for Women's Cancers at. The event will feature free t-shirts to participants, as well as a barbecue and raffle to benefit Lucia's Angels.

Sustain Inspire Survive, a program that provides financial assistance for breast cancer patients, will hold their second annual Pink Tie Gala at Casa Larga Vineyards in Fairport. Donors can take part in casino tables, silent and live auctions and a raffle while listening to the Orient Express Band play live at the event. 

The White House got a pink glow in Washington, D.C. People painted their pumpkins pink in Calvert, Md., and women donated art made of bras in Orange City, Fla. In Pennsylvania, first lady Susan Corbett turned the fountain pink in Harrisburg. And they did it all last year in celebration of the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This October promises to bring even more colorful and thoughtful events and opportunities.

“Clearly, every person who brings attention to the cause is fantastic,” said Terry Music, the chief mission delivery officer for the American Cancer Society.

Groups of women are getting together and survivors are reaching out to each other on social networks. Children are helping out, too, by pitching tents and filling water bottles at fundraisers in Tampa and serving pink lemonade from homemade stands in Philadelphia. Neighbors in Little Neck, N.Y., gather for a block party.

Men are participating, too, and in Connecticut, they are hosting a dance — no ties needed! In Virginia, men’s soccer and volleyball teams suit up in pink for special games.

There are hundreds of breast cancer awareness walks and runs around the country, plus marathons and exercise-related events. Then there are the tea parties, luncheons, golf tournaments, masquerade balls, art shows, motocross and motorcycle rides and concerts.

A Winter Park, Fla., hospital is raising money for the cause by selling pink plastic flamingos, which are popping up in yards all over town. An exhibition in Illinois is spotlighting survivors and family members through visual art.

And, of course, let’s not forget the high heel races going on around the world in support of breast cancer awareness, like the Stiletto Stampede for the Cure in Houston.

To our readers:

Are you a survivor? Do you have a story to share? Patch wants to give you a place to inspire and encourage each other. Send us your photos of those 5ks, pink parties, dog walks and luncheons. Heading to get a mammogram with your friend, sister, co-worker or daughter? Snap a photo before you go, and send it our way! Email brendan.j.oreilly@patch.com.