Roswell Park, Partners Painting The Town Pink This Fall

BUFFALO, NY — Throughout September and October, the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) community will paint the town pink in the name of breast cancer awareness. Western New Yorkers are encouraged to take the Pledge to Go Pink by supporting a number of educational events and fundraisers sponsored by Roswell Park and its partners, serving as advocates for themselves, for loved ones and for all those who have fought this disease — or are in the fight right now.

Community members can learn the latest about breast cancer and support survivors at these Pledge to Go Pink events:

·       Paint Allentown Pink— Beginning Friday, September 2, Theatre of Youth (TOY) and other merchants in Buffalo’s Allentown area will encourage patrons to take the Pledge to Go Pink and support breast cancer research with donations.

·       Pinkalicious: The Musical— Yroswell is sponsoring “Pinkalicious,” the opening show of TOY’s 2011-12 season, which debuts Friday, September 16 at 8 p.m. as part of Curtain Up!

·       17th Annual Bosom Buddies Walk— On Saturday, September 17 beginning at 9:30 a.m., walkers will make 1.5-, 3- and 5-mile treks in support of the WNY Breast Resource Center at Roswell Park, departing from East Aurora Middle School, 430 Main Street, East Aurora.

·       Paint the Park Pink— Roswell Park invites survivors, caregivers and all those committed to the fight against breast cancer to a press conference marking the kickoff of Breast Cancer Awareness Month Wednesday, September 28, at 11 a.m. in Roswell Park’s Kaminski Park. We’ll be joined by TOY’s “Pinkalicious “cast and members of the Buffalo Jills, and attendees will be encouraged to write messages of hope on pink ribbons that will be tied on trees throughout the park.

·       BJ’s Pink Picnic— Roswell Park breast surgeon Shicha Kumar, MD, will be a special guest Thursday, September 29 as BJ’s hosts an informational picnic at its 5183 Transit Road store in Williamsville. Joining Dr. Kumar will be representatives from the Esperanza Y Vida program.

·       Mother to Daughter, Sister to Sister: Let’s Talk About Breast Cancer— This important program, happening Saturday, October 1 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Roswell Park’s David C. Hohn Lecture Hall, will cover cancer basics, screening and diagnosis, treatment options, prevention and research. Informational exhibits and door-prize drawings will follow presentations by Roswell Park breast cancer experts and survivors, with specialprizes for the woman who brings the most family and friends to the event.

·       1033 Bottles of Beer on the Wall— On Friday, October 7, beginning at 4 p.m., D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub, 257 Franklin Street, Buffalo, will donate a portion of the proceeds from the first 1,033 Labatt beers sold toward breast cancer research at Roswell Park. On-air personalities from WEDG-FM 103.3 The Edge and members of the Buffalo Jills and Jills Alumnae will be on hand.

·       Buffalo Jills Alumnae Breast Cancer Awareness Day— To show their support for all affected by breast cancer, the Buffalo Bills will sport pink gloves and cleats as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, October 9 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park; special half-time appearance by the Jills Alumnae.

·       Breast Cancer Expo— Roswell Park physicians and educators will make a stop at the Boulevard Mall, 730 Alberta Drive, Amherst, on Saturday, October 15, to talk with shoppers and answer their questions about every aspect of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

·       Breast Cancer Charity Football Game— Also on Saturday, October 15, the Williamsville East Flames will donate half the proceeds from their matchup against Starpoint to breast cancer research at Roswell Park; Williamsville High School, 151 Paradise Road, East Amherst.

·       State of Breast Cancer — Roswell Park breast cancer experts will report on new therapies and promising research Wednesday, October 19 at the Roswell Park Amherst Center, 100 College Parkway, Amherst, beginning at 6 p.m. (invitation-only due to space constraints).

Throughout October, two area hair salons — d’Art Moda Hair Salon & Day Spa, 7032 Transit Road, Williamsville, and Fix Salon & Aesthetics, 475 Ellicott St., Buffalo — will be promoting cruelty-free feather hair extensions from Air Feathers, distributed by Salon Accessories, with proceeds benefitting breast cancer research at Roswell Park.

And advocates can also show their support for breast cancer awareness and research funding on social media by adding a Pledge to go Pink Twibbon to their profile picture, following hashtag #Roswell ParkGoPink on Twitter and staying up-to-date on Facebook.com/RoswellPark.

The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Roswell Park, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit Roswell Park’s website at https://www.roswellpark.org/, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org.