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Best Ways To Get Involved With Breast Cancer Awareness Month In Sacramento

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there is no better time to learn about and join the fight against the deadly disease. National Cancer Institute figures show that around 1,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Sacramento County each year, with Sacramento standing as the only county in California where those numbers are increasing. The following are just a few of the ways to get involved in the fight.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
State Capitol
10th St. and Capitol Ave.
Sacramento CA, 95814
(916) 561-2927
main.acsevents.org

Oct. 18 at 8 a.m.

Help raise funds for breast cancer research and show your commitment to the cause by joining this non-competitive 5k walk. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society, so come join the more than 20,000 expected participants. Walkers can sign up online or at the event, in time for opening ceremonies on the west steps of the capitol at 7:45 a.m. There will be entertainment before and after the walk, and refreshments will be available at the finish line. This is a great event for families to take part in, and little ones can come along for the ride in strollers or wagons.

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Sacramento Kings "Pink In The Paint 3″
Sleep Train Arena
1 Sports Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95834
albieaware.org

Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.

Check out local preseason NBA action on Oct. 8, when basket-shooters jump high for healthy hooters. The Spurs visit the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena for the game dubbed "Pink in the Paint 3,″ which will raise funds for the Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation. Highlights of a special halftime show include a silent auction, health information and local survivors of breast cancer. The nonprofit was created in the memory of Sacramento businesswoman Albie Carson, who died from breast cancer in 2002. As an organization, Albie Aware offers preventative education and advocacy, helps pay for diagnostic testing and even goes along to support patients at doctor's appointments and wig fittings.

Shop For The Cure

Check out high-quality preowned clothing, décor and more at The Discovery Shop, which raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Sacramento designer Gail Nelson of Works by GEN donates 10 percent of sales from her breast cancer jewelry series to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Pick Save Ourselves Breast Cancer Organization of Sacramento as your charity of choice on Amazon.com, and a percentage of eligible purchases will be donated to the nonprofit. Save Ourselves offers no-cost services including a 24-hour support hotline for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. To choose Save Ourselves as your AmazonSmile charity, click here.

Pink breast cancer awareness car license plates will soon be available — send your name and email address to PinkPlate@dhcs.ca.gov for information. Even snail mail can help save lives when you use the right postage stamps. The sale of Breast Cancer Research stamps, available at all U.S. post offices, has earned more than $80 million for research since being issued in 1998.

Sax On The River 2015
10215 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA 95837
(916) 709-5655
saxontheriver.com

Saturday, Oct. 10

Sax on the River, a spectacular event for jazz lovers, is held at a beautiful private estate overlooking the Sacramento River. This year, the party is a fundraiser for The Karla J. Williams Foundation, which offers nurturing support for patients undergoing cancer treatments and services including childcare, transportation, housekeeping and meal preparation. Performers for Sax include Nicholas Cole, Lin Rountree and Lebron, the modern jazz stars of Generation NeXt. Other featured artists are Levi Huffman, Elizabeth Mis and Sacramento's own Cecil Ramirez.

Find Your Own Way To Help      

Talk with your friends about breast cancer and offer reminders and moral support when it is time for yearly mammograms. Raise money to donate to your favorite cancer charity through craft or bake sales, collecting recyclables, etc. Start young girls on the path to good lifelong health routines by practicing breast self-exams while they are young. Think long-term, getting children interested in science careers today can lead to medical breakthroughs in the near future.

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Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers business, employment, animal rescue, volunteerism and nonprofits. Her work can also be found at Examiner.com.

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