‘Main Street Goes Pink’ in October to support breast cancer awareness month

Riverhead will paint the town pink during October in support of breast cancer awareness month.

From Oct. 9 through Oct. 23, Main Street businesses will participate in the American Cancer Society’s “Main Street Goes Pink” by displaying pink ribbons, offering signature pink products or otherwise promoting breast cancer awareness at their places of business.

This effort will culminate with the sixth annual American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk of Eastern Long Island, which will be held at Suffolk County Community College’s Eastern campus in Riverhead on Sunday, Oct. 23.

“Each year the event grows, engaging nearly 4,000 community members in the fight against breast cancer and those community members raise funds that provide lifesaving research, promote education and risk reduction as well as provide a comprehensive patient support to those who need it most,” said Katie Goepfrich, senior community manager of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Dr. Sylvia Diaz, executive director of the Suffolk Community College Foundation, expressed her excitement at the college’s partnership with the American Cancer Society and announced the creation of a new breast cancer survivor or caregiver scholarship.

“As a result of the partnership with the American Cancer Society we’ve established this first-ever scholarship that will be an endowed scholarship and will be awarded annually to a student who has either survived breast cancer or has taken care of someone who has been affected by breast cancer,” Diaz said.

“Main Street Goes Pink” has several levels of engagement for business owners. For additional information or to sign on, email Katie Goepfrich at the American Cancer Society.

The Oct. 23 walk begins at 8:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony. All money raised goes to research.