“Real men wear pink”, including designated “Pink Man”, Sheriff Carl DuBois, left
CENTRAL VALLEY – In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the inaugural launch of “Hudson Valley Goes Pink,” county leaders from across the region met Monday morning, to promote awareness of the disease that is the second leading cause of death for women in the U.S.
Hudson Valley Goes Pink is a facet of a larger campaign from the American
Cancer Society. With October 1 marking the first day of Breast Cancer
Awareness month, county leaders came to share their thoughts and actions
to help promote breast health across the region.
Currently, breast cancer is the number one cancer contracted by women in New York and affects 266,120 women and 2,550 men nationwide in 2018.
Dutchess County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor, Marcus Molinaro, said Dutchess is a proud participant in the initiative and that it reminds him of the community driven cohesiveness that is sometimes overshadowed by the divisive nature of the current political climate.
“It’s moments like these that remind us that we are all one community and that there are those who we care deeply about, and maybe some who’s paths we will never cross, who need our attention, who need our support and who need our compassion,” said Molinaro. “Perhaps, in 2018, and perhaps in this particular walk, the Hudson Valley can extend to one another a bit of compassion and care because that is, I think, how we define ourselves- how we care for one another.”
This year’s campaign includes a number of men representing “Real Men Wear Pink,” a part of the initiative that hosts men, active in their communities, to wear pink for the entire month in addition to raising $2,500 for breast cancer research. This year’s “pink man” from Orange County is Sheriff Carl DuBois.
Also, Strides Against Breast Cancer, a walk to promote breast cancer awareness, will be held in the Hudson Valley, as well as in Purchase, Westchester County. It is one of approximately 300 events across the nation for Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Sheila Bogan, director for community development for the American Cancer Society, said the main message is to get people feeling comfortable with discussing the potential of breast cancer with their healthcare providers.
“Talk about it with your doctor. Find out when you should be getting screened. 40 is a great time to talk about it. If you feel like your family has had breast cancer in its history and you need to talk to your doctor sooner, do it,” said Bogan. “Talking about it and having those conversations is the key, and I think talking to your county executives, talking to your neighbors and people who can make decisions within your county, spreading that awareness and being able to come together over a united cause like this, which affects so many people, that’s really the first step and the most important takeaway from today.”
Much of the Hudson Valley is offering breast cancer screenings to underserved, or under-insured, communities across the region. Women 40 and over are encouraged to reach out to the American Cancer Society, or their local municipalities, to inquire about life-saving, breast cancer screening procedures.
