October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, corporations like RE/MAX, through its Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure sponsorship, and even individual communities are promoting awareness of this illness which strikes thousands of women - and men - each year.
Proudly, Covington is no exception.
In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Main Street Covington and the Newton Medical Center Women's Diagnostic Center partnered this month to present "Portraits of Hope." "Portraits of Hope" is perhaps one of the quietest, but most compelling and impactful "celebrations" I've witnessed.
"Portraits of Hope" features 26 local women who are cancer survivors from the diagnostic center's support group. As a part of the program, Janette Facer, Merle Norman cosmetologist, applied makeup for the women. Kim Brown, Covington freelance photographer, donated her talent to take individual portraits of the 26 women.
Wendi Martinez and Kay Goff, diagnostic center volunteers and cancer survivors themselves, arranged to have the portraits placed in the windows of downtown Covington businesses, along with short anecdotes of the women's personal experiences with the illness in their own words.
Tonight, October 18th at 5:00pm, these 26 women will be honored at a reception at the Southern Heartland Art Gallery on Covington's town square. The square has been "pink" all month with large pink bows around each streetlamp. But tonight for the reception, it will also be lighted with pink luminaries dedicated to all those who have battled breast cancer.
The luminaries to be lighted all around the square tonight have been available for purchase this month in honor or in memory of a loved one. Proceeds from sale of the luminaries will go to The Hope Boutique and for digital mammography equipment in The Women's Diagnostic Center at Newton Medical Center.
Since the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985, mortality rates in the U.S. are over 24 percent lower due to public awareness and advancements in diagnostic and treatment tools. And yet, according to the National Cancer Institute, 178,480 women and 2,030 men will be stricken with breast cancer this year.
If you can, attend the reception for our 26 survivors tonight at the Southern Heartland Gallery. The public is invited. But if you can't make that, at least stroll around the historic square this month, look at the lovely portraits in the store windows, and read these courageous women's inspiring words. It will make you proud of our community and happy that we have these "Portraits of Hope" among us in Covington.
The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.
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