NEWS

Pink ribbon flag flies high at City Hall, raises breast cancer awareness

By EMMA BARTLETT
Posted 10/11/22

Mayor Ken Hopkins raised the pink ribbon flag for breast cancer awareness month outside City Hall Thursday night; this is the first time the city has flown the flag.

“This is an extremely …

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NEWS

Pink ribbon flag flies high at City Hall, raises breast cancer awareness

Posted

Mayor Ken Hopkins raised the pink ribbon flag for breast cancer awareness month outside City Hall Thursday night; this is the first time the city has flown the flag.

“This is an extremely important event for me because I dealt with this with my sister, before her passing, as a survivor of breast cancer,” said Hopkins. “And I lost my wife due to cancer a few years ago, so this particular day is new for the City but has a special meaning for myself.”

According to the American Cancer Society, the United States sees 287,850 new cases of breast cancer each year and roughly 43,250 of those individuals will die from the illness. In Rhode Island, 15 percent of the state’s female population is diagnosed annually with breast cancer. Hopkins shared that since 2013, this trend has decreased 3 percent each year thanks to continual research efforts and assistance of organizations such as the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation that was present at Thursday night’s flag raising.

Carol Donnelly, Development and Communications Manager for Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, accepted the city’s citation on behalf of the organization; the citation recognized the foundation for providing free services to individuals and families touched by breast cancer in local communities.

Donnelly said the foundation provides over 3,000 meals to people in treatment and their families and gives over 500 comfort care bags to newly diagnosed women every year. The foundation has drop-in support groups, metastatic programs, free yoga, nutrition classes, special programming for young survivors and other wellness and holistic classes/workshops to help people heal mind, body and spirit.

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation seeks to support, educate and provide wellness services to anyone impacted by cancer as well as enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families. Their inspiration is hope, faith, strength, courage and determination.

“I know what the foundation does because I’m not only an employee of theirs, I’m also a two-time breast cancer survivor, so I am able to take advantage of these programs and I have in the past,” said Donnelly.

She added that the organization is mostly known for its Flames of Hope Weekend at WaterFire which occurred the weekend of Oct. 1.

“Yes, this is October – it’s breast cancer awareness month, but breast cancer happens 12 months out of the year,” Donnelly said, adding that the organization needs support 365 days.

Council President Chris Paplauskas shared how this cause was near and dear to his family’s hearts since his mom is a survivor.

“I remember the day that the whole family and her got that drastic news,” said Paplauskas.

Cranston Police Department’s Louis Pezzullo, Councilman Richard Campopiano and Lieutenant Governor Republican candidate Aaron Guckian raised the flag Thursday while Hopkins played “Just Stand Up,” a collaboration between female artists. The song talks about standing up to cancer and never giving up. 

Hopkins said pink lighting will be cast upon Cranston City Hall at night until the end of October to bring awareness to breast cancer and give thought to those who have passed and those who have survived or continue to fight the battle. The third floor’s windows each have a pink light in them, adding to the decoration.

“We wish all those families affected by this disease the best of wishes and God bless to those who have this and know that the City of Cranston has your back and you’re in our thoughts and prayers,” Hopkins said.

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