Patriots Point Launches Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, Lights Yorktown Pink

Patriots Point will dedicate the month of October to promote breast cancer awareness through their campaign, “The Fighting Lady is in The Fight.” Starting October 1^st, the USS Yorktown will be illuminated pink at night.  All month employees and visitors will be encouraged to support the campaign through dropping donations in the pink donation boxes at the entrance to the USS Yorktown and The Ship Store.  All staff members will wear pink t-shirts October 1^st and can wear them anytime during the month with a $1 donation toward the cause.  Money raised will be donated to Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina.

“When the men were fighting on the USS Yorktown decades ago, they were fighting for their country but also for their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives and daughters back home,” Patriots Point Executive Director Mac Burdette said.  “‘The Fighting Lady’ joined ‘the fight’ more than 70 years ago and she’s going to continue her support against this dreaded disease that affects so many women and their families. Today our efforts are even more important given the number of women who serve in the US Navy and onboard our warships,” he added.

Committee members for the Patriots Point Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign chose to donate monies raised to Hollings Cancer Center because it will benefit the museum’s neighbors.

“The Hollings Cancer Center breast cancer fund supports tri-county patients at critical times during their care,” Megan Baker, MD, breast surgeon and Medical Director of the Hollings Cancer Center’s Comprehensive Breast Care Program, said.  “This may take the form of financial support for a post-mastectomy bra, for vital genetic testing, dietary counseling, or physical therapy intervention. These funds are also essential to educational efforts undertaken throughout our community to raise awareness about breast cancer prevention, high-risk assessment, and life-saving clinical trial opportunities for patients,” she added.

Media and the general public are invited to the kickoff celebration Tuesday, October 1^st at 11am in Hangar Bay 3 of the USS Yorktown.  The public who wish to attend will be admitted free between 10-11am on October 1^st.  Members of Hollings Cancer Center and Patriots Point staffs will address the crowd. Following the short ceremony, attendees can release a pink flower into the Charleston Harbor in honor or memory of someone they lov

e who has been affected by breast cancer.  As another way to kick off the campaign, the pink fire-truck from the North Charleston Fire Department will be on site and visitors can sign it for a $1 donation.

About Hollings Cancer Center

Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and the largest academic-based cancer program in South Carolina. The cancer center has more than $35 million in cancer research funding and more than 200 clinical trials open to patients.

Hollings offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, therapies and surgical techniques. It has multidisciplinary clinics that include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists, pathologists, psychologists and other specialists. For more information please visit www.hcc.musc.edu.

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