Page 136 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2016

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
polished in pink
Real Men Wear pink
PARTICIPANTS RAISING FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR BREAST CANCER
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Teddy Lewis
Twenty South Mississippi men have joined the fight against breast cancer and will actively prove their support throughout October in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. These professional and business leaders agreed to wear pink every day of the month and are literally putting their money where their mouths are — as the old saying goes — by raising at least $2,500 each.
According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2016, an estimated 246,660 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and an estimated 40,450 will
die from the disease this year. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and it is the most common cancer diagnosed in women other than skin cancer.
The men participated in the
Making Strides kickoff event and a Real Men Wear Pink Reveal Party
in August. Their fundraising efforts began in September and will continue in October, culminating with the Making Strides walk on October 22. The participants are involved for a variety of reasons — many of which are intensely personal — and will raise funds in a variety of ways.
William Reasor is participating because he lost his wife of 36 years, Helen, to breast cancer. The Gulfport
resident recalled, “She was diagnosed in October 2009 and died in June 2014 after a courageous battle. When she hurt, I hurt too. It wasn’t easy but we were in it together.”
Robby DeAngelo joined the fight because “I’ve devoted my life to health and fitness.”
“No one should have to face a breast cancer diagnosis alone,” said Michael Sunderman. “That’s why I joined the American Cancer Society in support
of their lifesaving work and the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. This is a cause I personally believe in. My wife, Mary, and I have had too many friends affected by breast cancer. We have seen firsthand how difficult it can be for the women and their families.”
On a lighter note, Wade Howk said, “I couldn’t say no and I couldn’t resist wearing pink every day in October.”
“Our community can make a huge impact in the fight against breast
cancer,” said Denise Landry, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event manager. “We are grateful to our Real Men Wear Pink participants for lending their voices to our cause and fighting for everyone touched by breast cancer.”
The men are finding creative ways to raise money for the cause, including
a pink pancake breakfast and a golf tournament, Birdies for Boobies. The tournament, organized by John Carter and Michael Sunderman, is October 8 at Windance Country Club.
Thanks to the support of many people, $86 million is currently invested in breast cancer grants for research. More than $60 million is raised with Making Strides events each year as more than one million people unite to fight breast cancer. The breast cancer death rate has gone down 35 percent since 1989 in the United States, which means 224,500 lives have been saved.
136 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • October 2016
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