High Spirits at Rainy "Hands"
Cloudy with a chance of rain. Make that rainy with a chance of more rain. Even ABC Meteorologist and Grand Marshal Bill Evans couldn’t ward away the wet skies, but precipitation didn’t put a damper on the Breast Cancer Alliance’s fourth annual Hands Across the Avenue commemorative walk.
 Bill Evans leading the festivities |
 The Ecstatic Monkeys |
 Nat Day under the umbrellas |
“In my nine years of working with Dr. Fass, I have seen remarkable improvements in the fight against breast cancer and the Breast Cancer Alliance is an integral part of it. How can I not support their cause?” Angela Bosson, Office Manager, Institute for Image-Guided Radiotherapy
Cloudy with a chance of rain. Make that rainy with a chance of more rain. Even ABC Meteorologist and Grand Marshal Bill Evans couldn’t ward away the wet skies, but precipitation didn’t put a damper on the Breast Cancer Alliance’s fourth annual Hands Across the Avenue commemorative walk.
A cheery, wet crowd of 675 people, with balloons and umbrellas, strolled down Greenwich Avenue on Sunday, May 3 to celebrate mothers, sisters, grandmothers, friends, co-workers and all women with breast cancer. Their efforts raised more than $56,000 to fund research and outreach programs supported by the Alliance.
The Girl Scouts were back this year – Troop 50463 from Eastern Middle School in Greenwich, aka the Ecstatic Monkeys, sent 24 girls to participate and picked up the “cutest team name” award. Team HOAG, (Hematology & Oncology Associates of Greenwich), led by Greenwich oncologists Dr. Dick Hollister, Dr. Beverly Drucker and Dr. M. Sung Lee, boasted a whopping 138 in attendance and won the biggest team award. Starwood Foundation and Westin Holes & Resorts, awarded for being our founding sponsor, brought 72 walkers to the event. JPMorgan Private Bank brought 48 walkers, including many happy children. And the Institute for Image-Guided Radiotherapy team, led by Dr. Daniel Fass, won the platinum sponsor award and showed up with 18 marchers. A total of 21 teams walked the walk this year.
“It says something wonderful about our community that so many individuals, families and teams will show up on a less than perfect day to honor people with breast cancer. All those walkers, and the people who support us in different ways throughout the year, are the force behind this organization. We salute them and their dedication,” said Alliance President Margaret Sinclair.
 Stamford Mobile Mammography |
 Walk chairs with chef Albert DeAngelis and Ramze Zakka |
 Cindy Biondi, Joanne Masin and Cathy Sutton |
“I have been so proud to be part of the BCA Hands Across the Avenue for the past four years. It is such a feeling of joy and hope to see all the walkers, including supporters and many survivors like me, all walking together down the beautiful streets of Greenwich for such an important cause. Every step we take is a step closer to a cure and that’s worth doing no matter what the weather conditions!” Sue Brush, Senior Vice-President, Global Brand Management, Westin Hotels & Resorts
The event kicked off with a welcome from this year’s Hands co-chairs, Jane Batkin and Debbie Black, who stood against the inspiring backdrop of the Faces of Light® photos of breast cancer survivors looking on from the Richards windows. “Our fourth year was better than ever. No rain could wash out the spirit of the wonderful people who gathered here today to inspire continued action in the fight against breast cancer. Thank you all for your support!,” they told the crowd.
Grand Marshal Bill Evans spent a few moments recounting his mother’s experience with the disease and reminded the crowd why it’s so important to celebrate survivors and search for a cure. “My mother never had a mammogram and we lost her when she was only 53. I am so pleased that breast cancer testing and awareness has improved so much since then – that’s so important for my daughter, and for all of our daughters,” he said.
FM radio station 96.7 The Coast played music and set a festive tone with a live broadcast throughout the morning. Chef Albert DeAngelis of Mediterraneo Restaurant kept the crowd warm and fed with coffee and pastries donated by Ramze Zakka Restaurants. PepsiCo, Inc. donated bottles of Aquafina water. Joan Gore-Biagiarelli of the Stamford Mobile Mammography Program offered people firsthand glimpses of the Alliance-funded Stamford Mobile Mammogram Van in the parking lot and explained why this free mammogram service is so vital to the underserved women in our community.
In particular, the Alliance would like to recognize the event’s founding sponsor, Starwood Foundation/Westin Hotels & Resorts, and our Platinum sponsors, Omnicom, Inc. and the Institute for Image-Guided Radiotherapy, for their generous donations and participation in this event. We also appreciate the continued support of local businesses Hoagland’s of Greenwich and Steven Fox Jewelry.
 Walk chairs with 96.7 The Coast |
 Team HOAG |
 Team JPMorgan |
 Team Richards |
 Team Westin |
