26th Anniversary 5K Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness

Riverhead – The North Fork Breast Health Coalition is holding the 26^th Anniversary “5K Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness” on Sunday, September 22. The fundraiser takes place at the Riverhead location of Tanger Outlet Center, which sponsors the event. Participants can pre-register on the NFBHC website or register from 7:30-8:45 AM that morning. The walk begins at 9 AM and is over by 11 AM.

The registration fee to participate in the 5K Walk is $30 if paid by September 16 and $35 if paid after that date or on the day of the event. The first 300 entrants will receive a gift bag.

Walkers are encouraged to gather pledges of support from friends, family and colleagues. Top fundraising awards will be given in the following categories: Young Adult (ages 13-19 years old), Adult, Breast Cancer Survivor and Business/Team. Team captains must register team members, send in names and registration fees by September 16, and submit pledge money on the morning of the event.

The opening ceremony starts at 8:45 AM with greetings from Bernadette Tuthill, Vice President of NFBHC. Until then, registrants can enjoy breakfast that includes coffee, tea and juice with muffins, granola bars and fruit. They can also buy raffle tickets for dozens of valuable prizes donated by Tanger Outlet stores. Prior to the start, Marilyn LoPresti, PhD, founder of North Fork Bodies in Motion, will lead a warmup to get everyone ready.

“The annual 5K walk at Tanger Outlets brings together breast cancer patients, survivors and thrivers, community members, elected officials and leaders in the breast cancer community. Tanger has partnered with us on the walk for the past 25 years and secures numerous gift baskets and other high-end items for the raffle. Proceeds from the walk help pay for the free services we offer to breast cancer patients and support our Lend A Helping Hand grant program,” said NFBHC President Melanie McEvoy Zuhoski.

Although it is possible to sign up that day for the race, registration in advance is recommended. To obtain more information, call 631-208-8889, e-mail nfbreasthealth@gmail.com or visithttps://northforkbreasthealth.paylite.net/ViewEvents.aspx, where you can register online.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. So far, this year’s top sponsors or “Pink Sneaker Sponsors” are: Bernadette Tuthill, Esq., partner of Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin and Quartararo, LLP; Cohen’s Fashion Optical in Riverhead; Connie Hayes – Losing is not an Option; Julie Sigler-Baum, East End Acupuncture; Joseph Duva, MD; M&T Bank; natera; Riverhead Central Faculty Association; Wendy’s Deli; and The Simmons Point Group of Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC. Riverhead Building Supply and Peconic Bay Medical Center Northwell Heath are “Kilometer Sponsors” and Kleinfeld Bridal is a “T-Shirt Sponsor.”

Currently led by Melanie McEvoy Zuhoski, the all-volunteer, non-profit organization supports local breast-cancer patients with programs such as the Helping Hand grants. NFBHC also funds Stage IV research at select laboratories. Proceeds from this event will allow the group to continue to provide free services including gentle yoga, massage therapy, reflexology and “Strength for Life” exercise to breast-cancer patients and survivors. They also have access to the Rita Duva Boutique that offers wigs, scarves, hats and prosthetics.

For more information about the North Fork Breast Health Coalition and the services that the organization provides to breast-cancer patients and survivors who reside in the North Fork area, visit www.northforkbreasthealth.org. Ann Cotton-DeGrasse and the late Antonio DeGrasse founded the North Fork Breast Health Coalition with the help of Riverhead Rotary in 1998.