Senator Sanders Supports SEQ Events in Recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month by attending and co-sponsoring events in Southeast Queens. About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12.4%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, according to statistics by breastcancer.org. 

Senator Sanders joined Flowers of Hope for a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on Sunday, October 14, 2018 at Brookville Park, where he presented certificates of recognition to survivors (male and female) at a ceremony during the event. He commended the honorees for their bravery and expressed his support for those still battling the disease. In a symbolic gesture, pink balloons were released into the air. Pink is the color associated with breast cancer awareness.

"We are turning our attention to a real war," Sanders said. "Yes, the government should be involved in a war, but not those foolish wars overseas, I'm talking about a war on cancer. Instead of spending all that money on planes and bombs, put half of that into cancer research. If you just took even 1/3 of what is being spent, you could solve this problem. We do want war - war on breast cancer, war on ovarian cancer, war on prostate cancer, and all the other types of cancer."

On Saturday, October 13, 2018, Senator Sanders attended a breast cancer awareness walk at Rochdale Village, where he was pleased by the outpouring of support from the community. The Rochdale Village Board of Directors donated $1,000 to the American Cancer Society. The walk kicked off with a performance by the Elite Marching Band. 

Later that day, Sanders co-sponsored an "Aware with Prayer" mass at Christ the King Church in Jamaica, where survivors shared their stories of how they overcame breast cancer. Informational materials about the disease were also presented.