When shopping around town this month you might notice that pink seems to have become an official fall color. With breast cancer being the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, according to the National Cancer Institute, it is hard not to know someone whose life has been affected. Both women and men are standing up in the fight against breast cancer and making great efforts in saving lives and trying to find a cure.
One local group has been fighting the breast cancer fight for the past 13 years. Soroptimist International of Redding (SIR) has been providing mammograms for those who would otherwise not be able to afford this often lifesaving procedure. Each year, SIR receives dozens of requests from both women and men who are in need of assistance to pay for their mammography procedure. One recipient of the SIR Mammogram Fund recently informed the Club that she was able to receive her first mammogram and ease her growing fears thanks to the support of Soroptimist.
Due to the tough economic times and the high rate of unemployment, SIR has seen an increased number of requests for help to pay for mammography. SIR recently reported that their Mammogram Fund has already been depleted for this year after paying just over $16,000 towards mammography procedures for local women and men. In order to replenish the Mammogram Fund, SIR holds a Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon each year. The 13th Annual Soroptimist Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon will be held Tuesday (Oct. 19) at the Redding Convention Center.
This year’s speaker is Heidi Marble, a breast cancer survivor who believes that “when your life is shattered by a diagnosis, you have to look at the pieces and be able to rearrange them and build yourself in a different way. Sometimes in doing so you become more beautiful.” Read more about Heidi Marble here.
Heidi’s book cover can cause some to feel uncomfortable, but this strong, amazing survivor puts her story out there so that others might find comfort in their own battles with cancer. Because really, what is the point behind bringing awareness when we can’t actually face the truth behind the illness? If we are willing to stand up and share in the fight against cancer, then we must also be able to see the full picture of how cancer affects the lives of so many around us. Heidi’s book cover alone does just that.
When: Tuesday (Oct. 19) at the Redding Convention Center. Doors open at 11 a.m., lunch served at 11:45.
Tickets: $30.
Ticket Outlets: Edwards Jones Investments – 1537 Placer St.
Tri-Counties Bank – Inside Raley’s on Lake Blvd.
North Valley Bank – 2245 Churn Creek Rd.
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