ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. About one in eight women in the U.S. (nearly 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
This year, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
In response to the alarming toll taken by this disease, the Englewood City Council declared October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and passed a resolution in recognition of this effort. As such, the Englewood Chamber of Commerce (ECC) and numerous businesses and organizations played an active role in the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign that helped put numerous breast cancer patients on a path to wellness.
Although there have been individual breast cancer events throughout the US for many years, according to ECC President Carol Rauscher, “Englewood is the first town to take an active role in bringing together an entire community to raise awareness and funds for a worthy cause.”
The highlight and grand finale of this campaign was the Walk for Awareness hosted by Englewood Health Foundation on Oct. 27. More than $160,000 was raised thanks to the more than 600 participants and sponsors who showed their support for the fight against breast cancer.
The EH Foundation Walk for Awareness was founded 20 years ago by Paul and Jill Fader. The annual event mobilizes hundreds of participants of all ages to raise funds to provide uninsured women in the community with access to a range of healthcare services including mammograms, genetic testing and other screening and diagnostic testing at Englewood Health’s Leslie Simon Breast Care and Cytodiagnosis Center.
This year’s event was moved indoors due to heavy rain. Nevertheless, there was an impressive turnout of both individual and team participants.
The Englewood Health Foundation Walk for Awareness is not a timed race, but rather focuses on fundraising that is done by the participants beforehand. Eula Bergado was the top individual fundraiser and Team Ritter Pink, the winning team, raised $12,000.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants arrived at the hospital’s Ferolie Gallery where they were given their hot pink commemorative T-shirts and a decorative goody bag and lots of items to fill it.
They then had the option of doing a photo booth picture, face painting or walking a one-mile loop through the hospital.
When they finished their walk, they could visit tables and exhibits hosted by EH’s Leslie Simon Breast Center, the Graf Center, Heel the Soul and several sponsors of the event.
There were also tables filled with free snacks—popcorn, cotton candy, chips, muffins and Ritter chocolate bars.
By noon, the hospital lobby was a sea of pink, with dozens of people wearing pink clothing and pink hats.
Nina Pineda, ABC TV news anchor stopped by and donned the ubiquitous pink T-shirt.
“I‘ve attended (and emceed) this event several years in a row. The weather is bad, but we’re not going let it rain on our parade,” said Pineda. “We need to raise awareness and Englewood Hospital is near and dear to my heart. My family comes here for all of our health care needs so I’m glad to support their breast cancer awareness programs. They know how to save lives!”
Also on hand to greet people were Debra Albanese, executive vice president of the Englewood Health Foundation, and Michael Gutter, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Englewood Health and Englewood Hospital.
Albanese said, “It’s great to see so many people here for this great event. We have raised $160,000 this year and close to $5 million since the Walk began. This money provides services that are a life saver for many women.”
Gutter agreed: “As a son of a cancer survivor, I think what they do at EH and the Foundation is incredible. This is important for the whole community.”
By the end of the 2019 Walk for Awareness, everyone agreed that the indoor venue was wonderful and it was a sparkling pink success!
NJ Eye and Ear held an after party 1 to 3 pm with healthy catered food to celebrate and support walkers. Owners Dr. Daniel Stegman and his wife, Patty, came to both their own event and also participated in the EH Foundation Walk for Awareness.
Rey Bolic, New Jersey Eye and Ear marketing director, said, “New Jersey Eye and Ear is trying to be a staple for health for the community, so we support Englewood’s breast cancer awareness walks and health related events.”
Other initiatives included members of the Englewood Police Department wearing pink badgesfor the month and the Englewood Public Library giving free flu shots on Oct. 27.
Demonstrating yet another admirable effort to support the cause, on Oct. 7, the Englewood City Council passed a resolution Honoring Dr. Violet Merle
McIntosh, chief of breast surgery at Englewood Health and breast cancer specialist at the Center at Lefcourt Family Cancer and Wellness Center.
Throughout the month of October, the city of Englewood was truly “in the pink!”