October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation is helping to put on three events to raise money for breast care.
Each event is raising money to support the breast health of women living in and around Lee County, said Sissy Barham, special events coordinator for the foundation.
"All of the breast cancer events are raising money for the EAMC Breast Health for Underserved program," Barham said.
The EAMC Breast Health for Underserved Women program helps women in Lee County and several surrounding counties.
"Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer, and this program allows for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, to be able to be tested," Barham said.
Colleen Alsobrook, the breast health navigator for the EAMC and event coordinator for the Think Pink Walk, said these events raise money to support the women in these counties where no other organization does.
"This is our way for not only promoting breast cancer awareness, but is the way we raise the money to provide free mammograms for women who have no insurance," Alsobrook said. "It's grown every year, and it's just an informational, inspirational-type walk."
The eighth annual Think Pink Walk will take place Sept. 29. Registration before the event is $12, but participants can also register the day of the event for $15.
"If you want a T-shirt in your specific size, you need to register by Sept. 20," Barham said.
The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika. Registration begins at 8 a.m., but participants can also sign up beforehand online.
Along with raising money for the EAMC Breast Health for Underserved Women program, the one mile walk also celebrates the survivors of breast cancer.
"It's a walk to honor breast cancer survivors," Barham said. "It's one mile around downtown, and everybody gets a T-shirt before the walk, so it's just a flood of pink Tshirts."
The next event sponsored by the EAMC Foundation is Bingo for Breast Care on Oct. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at the Health Resource Center.
Ten games of bingo will be played, and it is $25 for lunch and a bingo card. Each additional bingo card costs $1.
Bra-Dazzle, a bra decorating contest, is the final EAMC Foundation-sponsored event to raise money for the EAMC Breast Health for Underserved Women program.
"Other towns had been very successful and very creative," Alsobrook said. "They've had some really cute bras done, and they thought this would be something people would jump on board for. They seem to be liking the idea."
Alsobrook said she hopes anybody who wants to show creativity and get the word out about how important early detection is enters the contest.
Entry is $10 and must be submitted by Oct. 1. From Oct. 2 - 9, entries will be displayed and voted on at the Health Resource Center.
Either individually or team created, the entries must be turned in by Oct. 1 at the EAMC Foundation office or to Alsobrook in the EAMC Cancer Center.
Final voting and announcement of the winners will take place during Bingo for Breast Care. There will be two winners, one for best theme and the other for voter favorite.
For more information about the three events, including official rules for the Bra-Dazzle contest, visit thinkpink.eamc.org. If interested in volunteering for any event, email foundation@eamc.org.
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