BUFFALO – In its inaugural year, the Real Men Wear Pink campaign raised nearly $24,000 to support the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Buffalo.
Throughout the month of October, 11 prominent WNY men participated in the activity, raising funds and encouraging the women in their lives and in the community to take action in the fight to end breast cancer and create a world free from the pain and suffering caused by the disease.
Canisius Hockey Head Coach Dave Smith was the campaign’s top fundraiser, gathering nearly $5,000 to support the Society and those impacted by breast cancer.
“We are grateful to Coach Smith and all our Real Men Wear Pink participants for lending their voices to our cause,” said JoAnna Jacob, senior market manager for the American Cancer Society. “Not only did they wear pink throughout the month of October, but they raised awareness about breast cancer issues and made a huge commitment to raise funds to help save more lives. Those donations allow the Society to be there for everyone touched by breast cancer, from research to education, prevention to diagnosis, and treatment to recovery. Every action we take moves us one step closer to a world free from the pain and suffering caused by breast cancer.”
“Like any disease, breast cancer affects people in all walks of life,” Smith said. “Everywhere we turned, we received tremendous backing for our fundraising efforts in support of The Real Men Wear Pink campaign. I am extremely proud of the impact that the team and the entire Canisius community had in support of this initiative. We look forward to lending our efforts to this worthwhile cause again in the future. The Real Men Wear Pink challenge hit close to home for me because of a couple of close friends that are dealing with Breast Cancer. Those friends helped me in this fundraising campaign and without their support, we would not have had the success that we did as a group.”
In addition to Coach Smith, the 2016 Real Men Wear Pink candidates were: Jim Henry, VP, Foresters Financial, Mike Deely, regional staff director, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), Joe DiLeo, CEO, MassMutual Buffalo, Dr. Stephen Edge, VP healthcare outcomes and policy, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Dr. Thomas Foels, EVP, chief medical officer, Independent Health Association, Inc., Bryan LeFauve, COO, FARM, Nicholas Picholas, Kiss 98.5, Jeff Russo, anchor and reporter, WKBW-TV, Dr. Richard Vienne, VP and chief medical officer, Univera Healthcare, Alex Vienne, loss mitigation analyst: MDP, M&T Bank. Alex is the campaign’s Young Professional candidate.
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. In New York State, 16,360 women will be diagnosed this year and 2,410 will die from the disease. 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.
It’s not too late to make a donation to the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Buffalo. Visit MakingStridesWalk.org/Buffalo to help the Society continue saving lives. For free breast cancer information and resources or to donate, visit the American Cancer Society’s website at cancer.org or call 1-800-227-2345 anytime, day or night.
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