May is ‘Paint the Town Pink Month’
Freeholders help awareness of early detection of breast cancer

“The best defense against breast cancer is early detection,” Freeholder Deputy Director Serena DiMaso said. “Regular self-examinations are important and every woman should get an annual mammogram after consulting with her physician. Important breakthroughs are happening all the time because of the research and funding that helps treat this disease.”

The “Paint the Town Pink Month” proclamation was presented to Kelly Chaknis, regional manager for the Women’s Health Center at Bayshore Community Hospital and Riverview Medical Center, and Carolyn Napolitano, coordinator for Mammography at Bayshore Community Hospital.

Paint the Town Pink Month is organized as a community-wide effort organized by Meridian Health to make a difference in the lives of women by encouraging them to have annual mammograms and to financially assist in providing screenings for women in communities that are in need. This public awareness movement merges breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment with a financial component that raises funds to provide mammography screening to underserved women in our communities.

“By participating in the ‘Paint the Town Pink” campaign, each town helps to raise awareness of the importance of early detection of breast cancer and encourages community involvement and camaraderie,” said Freeholder John P. Curley, liaison to the Monmouth County Health Department. “This is a health issue that affects both women and men. One out of 100 men suffers from breast cancer. That is why regular self-examinations and mammograms are so important for everyone.”

 

During the month of May, anyone that visits local businesses who support “Paint the Town Pink” can contribute to the Pink Fund that supports awareness and raises money to provide mammograms to women in need and women who do not have regular health screenings.

“We are honored that the Board of Chosen Freeholders has proclaimed the month of May 2016, “Paint the Town Pink Month,” said Chaknis. “This opportunity supports our mission that every woman in our community receives their mammogram annually. Early detection is key to saving lives.”

For more information about Paint the Town Pink visit www.paintthetownpink.org.

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