One local politician who also happens to be a breast cancer survivor will play her part in turning her district pink on Tuesday, October 25.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Assemblymember Pamela Harris — whose district encompasses parts of both Bay Ridge and Coney Island — will be hosting a pink lighting of the Coney Island Parachute Jump as a part of the Light it Pink project.
The lighting — which follows in the footsteps as such lightings as those for Childhood Cancer Awareness and Ovarian Cancer Awareness, among others — is especially meaningful to Harris.
“I’ll continue to support breast cancer patients and survivors, as well as raise awareness so fewer women have to go through what I experienced after my diagnosis. It was an extremely trying time for me and my family, and I am so grateful for the support I had,” said Harris who, this year, passed a new law expanding access to lifesaving breast cancer screenings by eliminating co-pays and extending hours at hospitals and clinics.
“Each year during October we honor all those who have fought breast cancer with grit, poise and determination. As we watch the Parachute Jump light up all in pink we will think of all those who have battled and all those who will battle this disease,” she added. “We will fight on through research and support and remain forever hopeful for a cure.”
“Susan G. Komen Greater NYC salutes [Assemblymember] Harris’ purposeful actions in increasing lifesaving access in New York State to breast cancer screenings and for raising awareness of the devastating impact a breast cancer diagnosis has on a woman and her family,” said Linda Tantawi, CEO of Susan G. Komen Greater NYC. “Light it Pink is a wonderful way to engage the Brooklyn community in the fight against breast cancer and to remind women of the importance of being advocates for their own health by getting screened.”
The event will take place at the Boardwalk and West 19th Street at 6:30 p.m., and the Jump will be lit at 7 p.m.
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