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AMANDA LARCH
Real Men Wear Pink
West Virginia
Campaign Raises Funds for Breast Cancer
Awareness
While the breast cancer death rate in the U . S . has declined by 40 % over the past three decades , according to the American Cancer Society , an estimated 268,600 women in the country will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year .
To engage and empower male community leaders in the fight to end breast cancer , the American Cancer Society created the Real Men Wear Pink campaign . Each Real Men Wear Pink participant accepts a fundraising challenge and competes to be the top fundraiser among their peers by the end of the campaign . Since 2018 , West Virginians have raised more than $ 300,000 for this program . Dollars raised help the American Cancer Society save lives from breast cancer through early detection and prevention , innovative breast cancer research and patient support .
“ Real Men Wear Pink is an important initiative in West Virginia and in the nation because it spreads awareness and raises funds for breast cancer while making an impact by men showing their support , wearing pink every day and making a difference for those affected now and in the future ,” says Tori Harper , community development manager for the
American Cancer Society North Central Region . “ Our goal at the American Cancer Society is to simply fight for a world without cancer , and this initiative supports our mission greatly .”
Danny Scalise , executive director of the West Virginia State Medical Association and longtime participant in Real Men Wear Pink , has personal connections to the campaign and has experienced the effects of a cancer diagnosis in his life .
“ Unfortunately , I had to experience my wife having a breast cancer diagnosis in 2019 . The research partially funded by the American Cancer Society is the reason she is alive today ,” he says . “ Without research , we don ’ t know how to treat the disease . Resources the American Cancer Society provides were also a big help . I think this program is a small part of making certain that women live after a breast cancer diagnosis by funding research . It also ensures they have resources to teach them how to manage their health and understand the disease while undergoing treatment .”
Scalise chooses to participate year after year because it is a direct way he can help , and he knows where the money goes .
“ Everyone has a friend or relative who was diagnosed with breast cancer ,” he says . “ I consider myself a problem solver , and because I ’ m not a surgeon , an oncologist or a nurse , I can ’ t do much directly . This gives me a way to be part of the solution .”
Real Men Wear Pink runs from October 1st-31st each year in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month , but Harper says men can sign up starting as early as May and funds can be raised through the end of each year . Those interested may visit www . realmenwearpinkacs . org / wv to sign up or donate .
“ Men who join the campaign are very passionate about fighting for a world without breast cancer ,” she says . “ Maybe they are a doctor , husband , dad or son of someone affected by breast cancer . We also have men who just want to make a difference and use their networks to raise funds for research and services . We target distinguished men throughout the great state of West Virginia to join the campaign .”
In 2020 , West Virginia had a statewide goal of raising $ 75,000 for Real Men Wear Pink . Together , 34 participants raised more than $ 84,000 .
Brad Greathouse , chief people and culture officer at MVB Financial Corporation , raised $ 21,000 last year for Real Men Wear Pink . To accomplish this , he approached it from a fundraising perspective and first garnered support from his fellow MVB team members .
“ I also reached out to key personal and business contacts to gain their support ,” he says . “ So many have shared stories of how cancer has personally impacted them , and they were happy to pitch in for a great cause . I also wanted to tie in the message of getting regular screenings and checkups . Early detection is significant , as we all know , but we need the reminders to take time out of our busy lives to focus on our health .”
Greathouse says participating in the 2020 campaign and representing MVB was an honor that was also personal for him .
“ Cancer has had a direct impact on my family , and through those experiences , I discovered how vital the work of the American Cancer Society truly is ,” he says . “ Continued cancer research is , of course , imperative to finding better treatments and even a cure for different types of cancers . Until then , supporting patient care and information dissemination is critical .” •
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE