Choctaw Bike Team Encourages Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the United States, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 2.5 minutes, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women.
In honor of the 2.6 million survivors, the warriors that are fighting cancer, their friends, families, and those family members who lost the fight, the Choctaw Nation Bicycle Team (CBNT) will host its 3rd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day, Saturday, Oct. 19, in Talihina.
They are raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). BCRF remains one of the most fiscally responsible charities in the country and for the 10th time since 2002, it has earned four stars from Charity Navigator. Additionally, BCRF is the only cancer organization rated an “A”+ by Charity Watch with 91 cents of every dollar donated going to breast cancer research and awareness.
The goal is to increase awareness by “Painting the town Pink.” The team asks that all businesses and store fronts place pink ribbons, balloons, shirts, or other pink objects in their store fronts or outside their stores. They will host “Ride To Survive” bicycle rides (5 and 10 miles), the “Pink Pajama Pancake Run,” (5K), and the 1-mile Warrior-Survivor “March On Main Street” walk. Walkers, riders, and runners are encouraged to raise donations with prizes given for the most donations collected. Wearing pink is always encouraged and appreciated. The rides start at 7 a.m., with the March on Main Street lining up at 8:30 and start at 8:45 a.m. The 5k run starts at 9 a.m.
A $5.00 fundraiser pancake, bacon/sausage, biscuit/gravy, coffee, juice breakfast from 8-10 a.m., cooked by the ladies of St. Paul UMC, and a multiagency, informative Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday, from 9-12 noon. The Choctaw Senior Citizens and the Tiger Band Parents will also be on-site fundraising. Additional T-shirts, cowbells, “Think Pink” polo shirts, “Real Men Wear Pink” polo shirts, pink tie-dyed and pink camouflage T-shirts, “Man Enough to Wear Pink” camouflage caps, and other items, will be available for sale on site or from any CNBT member.
We all have our own reasons for running, biking, or walking. Whether you are a survivor, a warrior, a family member or someone who just wants to help; each step, each stride, each pedal stroke brings us closer to ending breast cancer. We can turn the dream of a world without breast cancer into reality, one step at a time.
For more information about the Breast Cancer Awareness: Bike-Run-Walk events in Talihina, as a participant, exhibitor or a volunteer, contact Nancy Jefferson, najefferson@cnhsa.com, 918-413-1581, Teresa Eagle Road at 918-567-7000 x6550, or any Choctaw Nation Bicycle Team member.