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Health & Fitness

Boldly Going Pink for a Cure

Everyone can do something to go pink in celebration of October being breast cancer awareness month.

Have you ever driven around a full parking lot looking for a space? I was doing that last Tuesday.  And I wasn’t alone.

Four other cars slowly moved through that crowded lot looking for an empty space. When this happens I always wonder if the guy who designed the building ever took the time to try to figure out how many spaces that building really needed. Probably not, after all, what does he care. Chances are he won’t have to go back to that building.

Normally when I get stuck driving in circles, stalking pedestrians, hoping to get their parking spot, I’m also wishing that the building designer is doing the same thing, at the same time, around the same building. I didn’t feel that way last Tuesday. I didn’t feel that way last Tuesday because this particular building that I was visiting is a little different than most places. In fact, I would be perfectly happy if no one ever had to visit this building. That is because this particular building is the Cancer Center at Stony Brook Hospital.I visited the Cancer Center because they are having a fund raiser.

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Every Tuesday in October from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the main lobby there will be vendors selling cancer awareness jewelry, teddy bears and pink hair extensions. All the funds collected will go towards funding programs for the center’s cancer patients.

I really wanted to do something to show my support.Since I don’t wear jewelry and I can’t carry around a teddy bear all day that left me with only one option.

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Now there was a time in my life when I would never even wear the color pink. And back then there was absolutely no chance that I would ever color my hair.  Fortunately, I’ve reached the age where I don’t worry so much about my appearance or what others think. After all, your opinion of me really isn’t any of my business. At least that is what I thought. 

As I sat down in front of the hair stylist I was suddenly very anxious about spending the rest of the month of October with a pink streak in my hair. But as uncomfortable as I was, I did go through with it. I cringed when she attached it.  But I just kept telling myself that any color has to be better than the gray hair that’s slowly taking over my head.

If a guy like me can walk around with pink streaks in his hair than I think everyone can take the time to do something this month to raise cancer awareness. If it is at all possible please do something this month to help in the fight against cancer.  Make a donation, wear a ribbon or go get a hair extension. Together we can o Pink for a Cure.

As I left the Cancer Center last Tuesday, I noticed that there was an empty parking spot right out in front. It was then that it dawned on me that we really don’t need more parking spots at this building. What we need is less cancer patients.

“Getting cancer can become the beginning of living. The search for one's own being, the discovery of the life one needs to live, can be one of the strongest weapons against disease.”

                                                     ~ Lawrence Leshan 

Disclosure: Anthony D`Amico is the owner of Always Best Care of Central Suffolk, a non-medical home care & assisted living placement agency. 

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