The “real men” have lined up to take part in this year’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer and money to fight it.
The men are met virtually Jan. 18 to kickstart their efforts. They’ll be wearing something pink every day in February as part of their competition to beat all of their peers and become the top fundraiser in the area. This is the sixth year of the campaign in Central Alabama.
“Breast cancer affects everyone,” said Aubie Clements, community development manager for the American Cancer Society. “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. These are sisters, mothers, grandmothers and friends.”
She applauded the men who have joined with the American Cancer Society in the fight against breast cancer.
“This is a cause they personally believe in and (they) are committed to raising awareness and funds for the fight against breast cancer,” she said.
“The COVID pandemic has given cancer the advantage, as women were forced to postpone regular breast cancer screenings earlier this year,” added Clements. “We are grateful to our Real Men Wear Pink participants for lending their voices to raise awareness and funds for everyone fighting breast cancer.”
According to the American Cancer Society Facts & Figures 2021, an estimated 284,200 people in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and an estimated 44,130 will die from the disease this year.
In Alabama, 4,460 women will be diagnosed this year and 720 will die from the disease. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, and it is the most common cancer diagnosed in women other than skin cancer.
For more information about breast cancer or the Real Men Wear Pink campaign in Central Alabama, visit RealMenBham.com.
This year’s Real Men Wear Pink participants in central Alabama are: Quentin Riggins, Ronnie Rice, Bob Dickerson, Mike Hendrickson, Bill Witting, Patrick Strubel, Trent Hallmark, Scott Sobera, Jon Register, Hunter Houston, Timothy Puthoff, Phillip Houston, Trip Cobb, Steven Jackson, Jason Avery, Rickey Passey and Mark Pettaway.
