The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer kick-off event was held on August 18. This event officially kicks off the fundraising season for the upcoming 24th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event being held at Memorial Field in Concord on Sunday, October 16. The kick-off event was attended by 120 team leaders, corporate sponsors, and community leaders.
Attendees learned about the impact of their fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society. Keynote speaker David Rosenthal, MD, senior physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, shared with the audience the progress he has seen during his career.
Dr. Rosenthal is a past president of the American Cancer Society and continues to play an active role within the organization. Among his most enduring contributions while at the American Cancer Society was the instrumental role he played in bringing an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge to Boston.
Opened in 2008, the Hope Lodge helps thousands of cancer patients and their caregivers save millions of dollars in lodging costs when they travel for vital treatments. Hope Lodge is just one of the many resources available through the American Cancer Society to assist patients and their caregivers.
American Cancer Society Hope Lodge’s 32 locations provide a free home-away-from-home for patients. It’s more than just a roof over your head, it’s a nurturing community where patients and caregivers share stories and offer each other emotional support. Hope Lodge facilities have saved 550,000 patients more than $466 million in lodging costs.
Volunteer Event Chair Debbie Brown said, “We know that cancer has a formidable nature and a destructive appetite. But after seeing the energy in the room at kick-off, we are reminded that we are a united force against breast cancer and all cancers. Every individual brings a unique talent and experience to our efforts for Making Strides, and because of that, we will free the world from the pain and suffering of cancer.”
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. Money raised by Making Strides supporters help the American Cancer Society ensure that no one faces breast cancer alone by funding innovative breast cancer research; promoting education and risk reduction; and providing comprehensive patient support to those who need it most.
Many resources and tools were shared with attendees at the kick-off event to assist them in their fundraising efforts.
Last year’s Concord event raised $466,870. More than $7 million dollars have been raised since 1993. The Concord event was recognized as the #1 per capita Making Strides event in the country out of 300 events.
At the heart of Making Strides fundraising efforts are the Making Strides teams, which account for over 85% of the money raised each year. “It’s my hope that in the next few months, our team leaders will think of the inspiring stories they heard at Kick-off, of the people close to them and of those who may be diagnosed in the future, as their own personal inspiration to take action. Everyone is welcome at Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” shares Volunteer Director of Teams Kathi Russ.
The kick-off program ended with the traditional highlight video of last year’s event, which can be viewed at Vimeo.com/144998216. The kick-off event was also live streamed by NH1 and can be viewed in its entirety at NH1.com. To learn how you can participate, visit MakingStridesWalk.org/ConcordNH.