Mayor, fellow Pink Tie Guys make big splash for breast cancer awareness kickoff

Mayor, fellow Pink Tie Guys make big splash for breast cancer awareness kickoff

By Gail M. Brown

Editor

JACKSON, Miss. – Motorists and pedestrians traveling down Pascagoula Street near Thalia Mara Hall during the month of October may find themselves doing a double take.

Yes, pink geysers are springing from the fountains in front of Thalia Mara Hall in downtown Jackson. To kick off October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr., his fellow 2010 Central Mississippi Susan G. Komen Pink Tie Guys and others turned the water in the public fountain pink.

“Real men wear pink you do know that!” said Mayor Johnson as he made the announcement, sparking laughter from the gathering. “We’re doing this as a way of [increasing] the awareness and promoting breast cancer awareness month here in the City of Jackson.”

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.  Note the following data about the disease:

 

Definition of breast cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.

Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2010:

    New cases: 207,090 (female); 1,970 (male)

    Deaths: 39,840 (female); 390 (male)

Source:  National Cancer Institute.

The Mayor said he and the eight-member group of gentlemen stand together in their mission to help fight breast cancer. “We’re committed to education; we’re committed to early detection and treatment; and of course committed to finding a cure for breast cancer,” said Johnson.

Marc Jaromin, president and general manager of the local FOX 40 television station told The Mississippi Link, “My wife is a survivor, and I am absolutely proud to wear a pink tie.”

Joining the mayor at the Oct. 1 kick off was the board of the Central Mississippi Steele Magnolia affiliate of the Susan G. Komen For The Cure. “They are the ones who came up with idea of really putting some splash into breast cancer awareness month by turning these fountains pink. It was not our idea; it was their idea,” Johnson said.

He also publicly recognized the staff of the Jackson Public Works Department for the technical work in making the pink water happen.

Wilma E. Mosley Clopton, Ph.D., president of the Central Mississippi affiliate of the Susan G. Komen For The Cure, said the pink fountains effort is a wonderful thing that the city has allowed the organization to do. “The city is co-sponsoring awareness efforts with us the entire month,” said Clopton, also a breast cancer survivor.

In a recent report, researchers point out that 60 years ago women diagnosed with breast cancer had just a 25-percent chance of living ten years. Today, the survival rate is higher than 75-percent.

Clopton’s breast cancer survivor story will be featured in the next issue of The Mississippi Link newspaper and e-edition.

There are numerous breast cancer awareness events and activities slated throughout the city, state and nation this month. Return to the site later for details.