Are you or someone you know making strides against breast cancer?  If so, then you may be aware that October has officially been deemed “Breast Cancer Awareness Month“, meaning that communities come together, hosting events nationwide to celebrate lives that have been saved and to raise money in hopes of finding a cure.

This month, the American Cancer Society (ACS) encourages women to “Put on your pink bra and join us in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The pink bra is an empowering symbol of how personal the fight against breast cancer is. During our Making Strides events, a sea of participants in pink bras will join together to take up arms against the disease. This noncompetitive, 3.2-mile walk that celebrates breast cancer survivors and raises funds to save lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures and fighting back.”

Smith & Associates Real Estate has formed a team to participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 22nd and are accepting donations online at  www.putonyourpinkbra.com.  Look for Team Smith & Associates or drop off a check at our Tampa office (3801 Bay to Bay Blvd), made payable to “American Cancer Society, Making Strides.” Donations of all amounts are welcomed and any amount over $100 or more will get you an event t-shirt!

Tampa Realtor, Janet Mendez welcomes & encourages friends, family, survivors & and clients to decorate a pink bra, wear it over your t-shirt and join our team for the walk. It’s a great way to show your children & grandchildren how a lot of people doing a small part for a big cause makes for huge results!

Event Details
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Saturday, October 22, 2011
7:30am Registration
9:00am Walk Begins

Location:
St. Pete Times Forum
401 Channelside Dr.
Tampa, FL 33602

A few fun facts on the American Cancer Society & why we are so eager to support them:

Helping people get well and stay well:
* The American Cancer Society’s screening guidelines are the gold standard for doctors and patients.
* Every 30 seconds someone calls the American Cancer Society and breast cancer is the top reason for calling. ACS provides support and information 24 hours a day via 800-227-2345 and online at cancer.org.
* The ACS is there with a sympathetic ear, cancer information, a ride to treatment, help accessing other resources in their community and many other services.

Finding Cures:
* The American Cancer Society has been involved in nearly every major breakthrough in the fight against breast cancer, helping make less radical surgery possible and finding lifesaving treatments such as Herceptin and Tamoxifen.
* ACS funds more research than any other nonprofit, next to the federal government.
* Fourty-four ACS funded researchers went on to win the Nobel Prize.
* The American Cancer Society invests more in breast cancer research than any other cancer type.  Today, ACS invests $115 million in 220 breast cancer research projects nationwide and more than $6 million for 11 research initiatives in Florida.

Figthting Back:
* The American Cancer Society is the leading voice for cancer patients in the Florida capital as well as Capital Hill.  Because of their advocacy, Florida developed two cancer research programs over the past decade and since just 200, has funded $7 million in breast cancer research.
* ACS is currently fighting for state funding to ensure ALL women in Florida have access to mammograms and breast cancer treatment.
* Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events bring communities together and give people a voice to fight back against the disease. The events raise both awareness and vital funding to make more progress and save lives.

If dropping off donations at the office, look for our “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” flags and for a $25 donation, a pink flamingo will be placed in our yard honoring or remembering a loved one of the donor’s choosing.  Have you or someone you know fought the battle with breast cancer?  What are your favorite supporting charities?

(Photos courtesy of American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer)