Over $300,000 Raised During October for National Breast Center Foundation in Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA, VA – “This year has been amazing,” says Martha Carucci, Executive Director of the National Breast Center Foundation, created by local breast surgeon, Dr. David Weintritt. “We broke records at every event, and it was obvious this year that the community was really aware of our mission and showed up in person and financially.”
That mission Carucci and Weintritt are on is to serve local women who are without funds or resources to basic preventive screenings, like mammograms, and biopsies, and then treatment if necessary.
“This year was the 8th Walk to Bust Cancer, and we were blown away by the numbers,” Carucci stresses. “We had over a thousand registrants. That’s the most ever.”
In addition to the Walk, Carucci has created a well-recognized symbol of the Walk to Bust Cancer, the “Angel Wings” which were painted by Alexandria resident and breast cancer warrior Mary Edwards, who sadly passed away in September 2022. “They are now ‘Mary’s Wings’ and we are forever graced with her courage and legacy,” says Carucci. “Her spirit will always be with us thanks to her amazing gift to us.”
The original wings have been archived, and replicas have been made which travel to high-profile businesses every day during October in what’s called the “Angel Wing Challenge.” Businesses create experiences around the wings and then people take selfies with them, share them on social media, tagging #angelwingschallenge and #walktobustcancer, and collect donations. “This year broke records that way too. And we expanded our reach into Del Ray, thanks to Del Ray Café, who matched up to $10,000 in donations when they had the wings at their restaurant for a day.”
But this year the giving went over all expectations when Kelly Grant at ALX Community in collaboration with Kelly Neff of VIP Alexandria dreamed up and hosted the first-ever ALX Pink Gala. “We sold out before we even had a chance to send out a press release about it happening,” said Grant just days after word hit the street about the “pink tie optional” formal event on October 20 at the ALX Community Atrium.
“They had a goal of $50,000, and Kelly just told me she thinks it’s going to be closer to $65,000. That’s incredible,” says Carucci.
All combined the final tallies are toppling the $300,000 mark and that means a whole lot of good things for many Alexandria women in need. People can give all year too. A donation of $100 pays for one woman’s mammogram she might otherwise have never had. If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering for the National Breast Center Foundation, visit their website at nationalbreastcenterfoundation.org.
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