Men With Heart is an all-volunteer team dedicated to eradicating breast cancer by raising awareness and funds and motivating men in the fight.
We are husbands who are doing something constructive rather than resigning ourselves to helplessness. We are sons who have seen our mothers courageously fight an insidious disease. We are brothers who want to stand beside our sisters in this battle. We are relatives, friends, lovers, colleagues, neighbors, and admirers of the women who are struggling with, often beating, and, regrettably, sometimes losing the fight with breast cancer.Hope burns eternal
Now that we’ve hiked our final Komen Boston 3-day (photos), Men With Heart turns its attention to other worthy organizations, projects, and events.
We’re especially excited to take part in the FLAMES OF HOPE weekend event in Providence on Oct. 11-13. FLAMES OF HOPE was created to promote breast cancer awareness and education and to honor people living with breast cancer. It has grown into one of the largest awareness events in the Northeast with three inspirational days of education, support, and hope.
The three days will feature road races (5K, 10K, and Kids “Fun Run”), concerts (Beatles and Jimmy Buffet tribute bands), a martial arts demonstration (“Breaking Boards for Breast Cancerâ€), family fun (face painting, games, and activities) and much more, including the pinnacle of the weekend—the moving Illuminations of Life Ceremony.
Men With Heart will be in attendance on Saturday, Oct. 12, helping out with logistics, handing out literature, and recruiting for our upcoming walks. We hope you’ll join us!
Get more info at: http://www.flamesofhoperi.com/about.html
Beautiful Avon!
We shared an incredible weekend of perfect weather with some amazing people, and we took valuable steps in the fight against breast cancer during the 2013 Boston Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.
For photos from the event, please visit our Facebook page.
If you’d like to join the Men With Heart team, please send an email to jack@menwithheart.org and he’ll get you signed up.
Thanks to all the beautiful and courageous people who took part in the journey. It was an honor to walk beside you.
Looking for a few good men!
You don’t need the strength of a U.S. Marine to walk 60 miles; you just need a lotta heart! (And a good pair of sneakers.) And heart is something that Men With Heart has in abundance. We’ve been walking for 11 years, bringing our unique brand of camaraderie and support to the Avon (2-days/40 miles) and Komen (3 days/60 miles) breast cancer walks. We’ve raised more than a cool mil for the cause, while conducting sing-a-longs, candy giveaways, mobile medical services, and more for our fellow walkers.
Has breast cancer impacted your life or that of a loved one? Join us! Contact Jack for the Avon or Scott for the Komen and we’ll tell you how easy it is to take part — a blister or two notwithstanding!
New advances in breast cancer understanding
In findings that are fundamentally reshaping the scientific understanding of breast cancer, researchers have identified four genetically distinct types of the cancer. And within those types, they found hallmark genetic changes that are driving many cancers. These discoveries, published online on Sunday in the journal Nature, are expected to lead to new treatments with drugs already approved for cancers in other parts of the body and new ideas for more precise treatments aimed at genetic aberrations that now have no known treatment.
Men With Heart’s 2nd Annual Outback Party!
Our second Outback party was a smashing success! We beat our year-one attendance and fund-raising marks by a long shot, and everyone had a good time while fighting the good fight.
Once we’ve tallied the donations we’ll post the results here.
We’ve also got some fall events coming up. Check back soon for the deets!
On Thursday, August 23rd, join Men With Heart at our second annual Outback bash!
Outback and Heineken, two socially minded businesses, have donated the venue, food, beer, and raffle prizes. And 100% of the proceeds benefit Men With Heart and the the fight against breast cancer. That’s no typo — it’s not NET proceeds, it’s ALL proceeds! Every penny from ticket sales will be put to use battling this insidious disease.
$25 is all you’ll pay. The admission price gets you unlimited quantities of Outback’s legendary appetizers (think Bloomin’ Onions, Chicken Quesadillas, Seared Ahi Tuna, Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie, Chicken Artichoke Flatbread, and much more!). The fee also buys you free-flowing beer taps (think Heineken, Dos Equis, Newcastle, and Amstel). (Please drink responsibly!) Plus you’ll get to hang out with those impossibly handsome and charismatic Men With Heart guys!
Glorious Avon!
In the eleven years Men With Heart has walked the Boston Avon, we’ve never enjoyed finer weather than the weekend of May 19-20. Not a cloud to be seen, temps in the comfortable 70s, light breeze. Perfect cancer-fighting weather!
The 1,800 participants all seemed in extraordinarily good spirits, perhaps because of the conditions, or maybe because they learned at the opening ceremony that we had raised nearly $5 million for the cause!
We met lots of wonderful people—especially the strong and brave survivors who endured far more in their treatment than we suffered trekking 40 miles. We sang songs until we were hoarse; handed out candy, buttons, and supplies until we were depleted; and walked till we were blistered. Hurting, but happy to be fighting the good fight.
We’ve posted a slew of photos on the Men With Heart Facebook page. Please visit and check them out.
If you’d like to donate to the cause, click here to find your favorite MWH guy to sponsor for the walk.
Looking forward to the Boston Avon 2013 walk! But in the meantime, we’ve got lots of other stuff happening; just scroll down to find our upcoming parties and walks.
Walks and parties
Walking season is fast approaching. Here’s an update on our Avon and Komen teams, plus news about two upcoming MWH parties.
~The Walks~
Avon walk: 2 days/40 miles
May 19-20
This will be the 11th consecutive year that MWH has fielded an Avon team. If I had more time, I’d calculate just how much we’ve raised for the Avon, but suffice to say it’s in the multiple hundreds of thousands. Please consider joining the MWH team for this walk. Click here to register for the Avon.
Komen walk: 3 days/60 miles
July 27-29
Komen may be lousy at PR, but they are still a powerful fundraising machine for fighting breast cancer. Their 3-day events are well produced and raise both awareness and funds in great quantities. Sign up for the Komen walk here.
~The Parties~
Our friends at Glynn Hospitality and Outback Steakhouse have confirmed they’ll be putting on their respective parties again this year with MWH as the beneficiary.
Glynn party (June 21):
If you attended the open-air block party outside Jose McIntyre’s last year, you know this event is a blast! With live bands, outdoor taps and grills, raffles and prizes, this is a must-attend event on the MWH social calendar.
Outback party (August 23):
Outback pushed their party into late summer (it was in May last year), which means better weather and a chance to celebrate the conclusion of another successful walking season. This socially minded restaurant chain, in collaboration with Heineken, provides the venue, food, beer, and raffle prizes. 100% of the proceeds go to MWH.
Keep an eye on the MWH website and Facebook page for more info as these events draw closer.
~Jack Burlingame
jack@menwithheart.org
Breast cancer apps
With iPhones able to get stock quotes, get weather forecasts, and even get sassy, is it any surprise that breast cancer apps wouldn’t be far behind? This article, from the Life Goes Strong website, reviews five such apps (and also gives a plug to MWH!). Get instructions for self-exams, GPS directions to the nearest mammography clinic, diagnosis guidance, and more, all on your phone.
Do you know of any other breast cancer or health apps? Hit the orange “comments” link and tell us about them!