It’s well known that breast cancer is the No. 2 cancer killer of women, with over 1.3 million cases worldwide in 2007 and 40,170 deaths last year in the U.S. However, the lesser known tragedy is the staggering number of breast cancer cases among men. There were 1,910 men diagnosed last year in the U.S., with 440 deaths. While breast cancer among men is considerably rarer than among women, the pink-ribbon cause remains the same: considerable funding is needed for research to improve the prognoses of sufferers, and treatment is still very expensive.
Last August, Boobapalooza, a multi-band fundraiser concert, was held at Mathis City Auditorium, to raise money for a team to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in Atlanta. This Saturday, we are repeating the event at Mathis to raise money for a more personal cause…to help fund the treatment of Chris Kilpatrick, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall.
“As women who have watched our loved ones fight the breast cancer battle, we wanted to find a way to give back and help others in their own fight,” says Valdosta resident Amy Hayward, one of the event’s organizers. “Boobapalooza not only allows us to raise money for this cause but awareness as well. This is especially important this year as we are working for the other facet of the disease, which is male breast cancer.”
Because in the end, it isn’t about numbers. It doesn’t matter that the risk of breast cancer is 1 in 8 for women as opposed to 1 in 1000 for men. Each of those is a very real person suffering the physical symptoms of the cancer, the emotional pain of diagnosis and its enormous effects on one’s lifestyle and relationships, the side effects of treatment, and the anxiety about recovery.
It is the easiest thing you can do to support breast cancer awareness and treatment: come to see some awesome local bands perform. Your $10 buys you a good time and it buys Chris something much more. Talk about good karma.
Indeed, every great effort begins with a single act, and one “case” ends up being much more than a case. It is one life saved and countless others inspired, and the cause marches on.
Boobapalooza II will be held at Mathis City Auditorium on Ashley Street, this Saturday March 27. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the show continues until 12 midnight, with 11 bands performing. Admission is $10 and proceeds go to the Chris Kilpatrick Treatment Fund.