Brundidge Rotarian Ben Busbee was the program host at the Wednesday meeting of the Brundidge Rotary Club. Busbee also took the podium as a program guest along with Brittney Meyer, 2016 Pike County Relay for Life board member.

Busbee and Meyer are believers that there is hope for a cure for breast cancer and are leaders in Pike County’s Men in Pink awareness and fundraising campaign.

Twenty-three “Pike County Men in Pink” have pledged to wear something pink throughout October, breast cancer awareness month, and to encourage the women in their lives to seek screening for early detection and intervention. Each of the Men in Pink has made a grand gesture to raise $1,000 for the American Cancer Society and its life-saving mission to finish its fight against cancer.

Busbee’s fundraising efforts are grand by most any comparison. His gesture is to complete a six-mile run and a 60-mile bike ride that he hopes will net him $1,000 and more to contribute to the total fundraising efforts of Pike County’s Men in Pink.

Already more than $7,000 has been raised for the life-saving mission.

Pike County’s Men in Pink are: Wes Allen, Mike Amos, Jeff Bentley, Busbee, Jimmy Copeland, Dr. Rick Gill, Mark Head, Bill Hopper, Jim Jackson, John Little, Greg Meeks, Marcus Paramore, David Phelps, John Ramage, Jason Reeves, Walt Sanders, Neil Smith, Mitchell Sneed, Buddy Starling, Robin Sullivan, George Tarbox, Matt Vaughan and Troy Weed.

Anyone who would like to make donation to any of the Men in Pink is encouraged to do so. Their mission not only focuses on funding ground-breaking research to find a cure for breast cancer but also on providing patient services including free patients lodging during treatment, one-on-one breast cancer support, free post-mastectomy bras, free wigs and head coverings, free patient health organizer.

Meyer said the funds that are raised through campaigns like Pike County’s Men in Pink are making a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their caregivers.

“Patients served in Pike County through 2014 include 1,119 nights of free lodging while in treatment at the Hope Lodge in Birmingham,” Meyer said. “That saved the patients and their families about $128,685. In 2013, patient services included 328 services provided through one of the ACS’ many programs, nine patients received a wig or gift item, 28 patients were provided with Patient Packets full of information and transportation assistance was provided for 30 trips.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers.  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1in 36.

Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.