Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Events on the East End

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and whether you love to shop, attend events, walk or run, there are tons of different ways to support the cause. Check out the list below of opportunities to go pink from Shelter Island to Quogue.

Oct. 1: Pink Ribbon Tree Lighting, 6:30 p.m., Chamber of Commerce, Main Street, Southampton

Oct. 4: Field Hockey Game to Raise Awareness, 4:30 p.m., Southampton High School. The Southampton field hockey team is having a breast cancer awareness game and have been raising money for a school district teacher fighting breast cancer. 

Oct. 5: Pink Friday Health Fair, The East Hampton Healthcare Foundation, Southampton Hospital, and South Fork Community Health Initiative will co-sponsor a health fair in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Most Holy Trinity Church school building, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Educational information on early detection and prevention will be available and attendees may make appointments for no-cost mammogram and pap tests (for uninsured women over the age of 40). Other highlights will include free glucose, total cholesterol, blood pressure, STI and HIV screenings and colorectal screening packages, Reiki, and stress management information.

Oct. 7: Enlighten, Inform & Educate, Doctors Hiram S. Cody III of Memorial Sloan Kettering Medical Center and B. Hannah Ortiz of Peconic Bay Medical Center will lead our discussion on breast health, early detection and the latest developments in breast cancer research and treatment. Literature from local organizations will also be available, Quogue Library, 2 p.m.

Oct. 9: Look Good, Feel Better Program for woman going through radiation or chemotherapy, 1 - 3 p.m., Hampton Bays Library. Call 726-8715 to register.

Oct. 10: Day of Renewal and Hope for Breast Cancer Survivors, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Cormaria Retreat House, Sag Harbor. Call 726-8715 to register.

Oct. 12: Care for Cher - Fundraiser for Cheryl Bennett, 6 p.m., Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett. The mother of two young children, Bennett is fighting breast cancer, which has spread to her lymph nodes. Various musical guests will perform, including The Nancy Atlas Project, Winston Irie and Booga Sugar. There will be a silent auction and a raffle drawing for donated items of value.

Oct. 13: 8th Annual Birdhouse Auction, 5 - 8 p.m., Peter Marcelle Gallery, Bridgehampton. Tickets $20, $25 at the door

Oct. 16: Coalition for Women's Cancers, meets on the third Tuesday of the month, Bridgehampton National Bank Community Room
Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, 6:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Oct. 20: Shelter Island 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer, 10 a.m., Crescent Beach, Shelter Island. Registration is $25, $10 for children ages 14 and under, in advance; Day of race, $30. All funds dispersed evenly between the North Fork Breast Health Coalition and the Coalition for Women's Cancers at Southampton Hospital. There will be a raffle to benefit Lucia's Angels.Raffle tickets sold too, with money going to Lucia's Angels. BBQ follows. A free shuttle bus transports participants from the North Ferry to the staging area between 8 and 9:15 a.m. and back to the North Ferry until noon.

Oct. 23 - Nov. 20: Mind Body Program for Cancer Patients, on Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m., Ed & Phyllis Davis Wellness Institute, Southampton Hospital. Call 726-8800 to register.

October 24: Pink Information Day, Quogue Library, Quogue

Oct. 26 : Free Makovers for Breast Cancer Survivors, Macy's in Hampton Bays. Call for time 726-8715.

Oct. 27: Real Men Wear Pink Cocktail Party, 5 to 7 p.m., South Fork Country Club, Amagansett. In memory of Teresa Montant, of Shelter Island, who lost her battle with breast cancer last year. Tickets are $100 and proceeds go to the Women's Cancer Coalition, the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center, and Lucia's Angels. For more information, contact 324-0803

Nov. 2: Girls Night Out, Gurney's Inn Resort & Spa, Montauk, an evening of complimentary wine and cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and spa pampering to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Tickets start at $35. Call 668-2345.

Nov. 7: Girls Night Out, 7 to 10 p.m., 235 Elm Street, Southampton. Tickets $40, $45 at the door

Nov. 10: Chicks with Sticks Yarn and Craft Sale, 11 a.m. − 3 p.m., Parrish Memorial Hall , Southampton Hospital

Southampton Hospital also offers Wellness Programs for Cancer Survivors and a Culinary Boot Camp for Breast Cancer Survivors, a six week series of cooking classes to prepare health supportive meals, will be held at private homes from Quogue to East Hampton. Call 631-726-8715 for more information.

Brunetti Hair & Beauty in Westhampton is partnering with the American Cancer Society for the month of October to raise breast cancer awareness in our community. They are offering a hot pink HotHeads hair extention for $50 each. They are also selling Sebastian Shaper and Shaper Plus Hairspray in pink, breast cancer awareness, cans.  Proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.  

There’s also the 5K walk/run organized by the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer in New York.

There are even more ways to spread breast cancer awareness this month by supporting national organizations that are fighting for a cure.

Research centers like Susan G. Komen for the Cure are selling pink ribbon merchandise and it’s a twofer — retail therapy and donating to a cause that affects millions.

You can also support breast cancer research by affixing a special stamp to your mail. The U.S. Postal Service has been selling a stamp commemorating breast cancer awareness for the past 15 years. The agency has raised $75 million so far for research programs at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense.

The American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is organized nationwide and so far more than 8 million people have walked for this cause and raised about $460 million.

And you can join people from four continents in a Race for the Cure event organized by Susan G. Komen For The Cure, or an Avon Walk For Breast Cancer event organized by the Avon Foundation for Women.

TELL US: Is there a special event you participate in to support breast cancer research? Share your stories and thoughts with us by adding them to the comments sections of this article. Also, be sure to add photos of you and your friends supporting the cause to the photo gallery above.