Local Breast Cancer Survivors 'Hustle' for Others in Treatment

Dancing With The Survivors® hits the dance floor October 1 at Shriners Silver Garden Event Center in Southfield.

Now in its third year, Dancing With The Survivors® celebrates breast cancer survivors who thrive in their recovery and make a difference in the lives of other cancer patients. This year, nine courageous women from southeast Michigan will perform ballroom style dances with their spouses, fathers, sisters and dance professionals from Fred Astaire Dance Studio – Bloomfield Hills. They’ll share inspiring stories of their breast cancer journeys while raising money for The Pink Fund’s mission: providing non-medical financial assistance to breast cancer patients in active treatment.

“Everyone is aware of breast cancer,” says Molly MacDonald, breast cancer survivor, founder and CEO of The Pink Fund. “What they aren’t aware of is the side effect of financial toxicity. While fighting for their lives, many breast cancer patients in active treatment lose their livelihoods. Unable to work, patients often face catastrophic financial losses. Some may even stop treatment and return to work in order to pay basic bills.”

MacDonald dealt firsthand with the pain, frustration, stress and humiliation of financial toxicity. In 2005, she was between jobs, supporting her five children, caring for her aging mother, and paying $1,200 per month for COBRA health insurance when she was diagnosed. Two surgeries and six weeks of daily radiation cured her cancer but derailed her career and ruined her finances. Her home went into foreclosure; her family relied on a local food bank for nourishment. There were no financial resources available. Frustrated and broke, the ruins of her personal tragedy gave life to an organization that was determined not to allow others to encounter the same fate and help breast cancer patients cover critical non-medical bills during treatment.

With help from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on Bloomfield Hills, which has donated eight private dance lessons to each breast cancer survivor participating in the event, all nine survivors will support The Pink Fund’s mission by showcasing the ballroom dances they’ve been practicing all summer. Additionally, in line with The Pink Fund’s “money raised here stays here” policy, funds raised at this event will be restricted for breast cancer patients seeking financial assistance in Michigan. Dancing in this year’s event are:

· Lori Baran, Goodrich, went from Stage I to Stage IV in 2 years and is in her 3rd recurrence with the disease.

· Kathleen Galligan, Detroit, says of her 2014 diagnosis, “It felt like time stopped.”

· Gretchen Geist, Beverly Hills, is dancing on behalf of her mother, Laura, who lost her battle with the disease in 2012.

· Brenda Kambakhsh, Oakland Township, is dancing with her husband, Manoucheher, because, “He is my true love…I am blessed to have this man with me on my journey.”

· Kristy Lynch, Warren, married and mother of 3 children, is dancing with her dad, Anthony Andrus

· Kathy Martin, Rochester Hills, is dancing with her physician, Dr. Samson Kpadenou, MD, who is a competitive ballroom dancer.

· Sisters, Laura Segal, Franklin, and Carol Ziecik, Bloomfield Hills, are dancing in a quartet to DeLight’s Groove Is In the Heart.

· Ty Weaver, Ypsilanti, a Pink Fund recipient was diagnosed in 2014, 10 years after losing her husband to cancer.

MacDonald says, “Treatment is just the beginning of the disease, with effects that can linger for years, including body image issues and loss of intimacy. Dancing can play an important role in the life of a survivors, helping them and their partners reclaim some of that intimacy, and helping take their minds off their health issues.”

Evan Mountain, who owns the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Bloomfield Hills with his wife, Lada, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, says, “Studies have shown that dance helps survivors feel good about themselves. The simple act of learning a dance move can help one feel attractive and graceful, and it allows survivors to forget about cancer and instead focus on other aspects of their lives.”

Each inspirational story and dance will be enhanced by costumes from award-winning costume designer, Randall Christensen, whose designs have been seen on ABC’s reality TV show, Dancing with the Stars.

In addition to the ballroom dance showcase, Dancing With The Survivors® will also feature open dancing to tunes from DJ Mike Anthony, as well as small plates and cocktails.

Tickets, $150 reserved seating or $100 general admission, can be purchased at www.dancingwiththesurvivors.com/bloomfield-hills-michigan/, or by calling (248) 229-4668. For more information on The Pink Fund, please visit www.ThePinkFund.org.

ABOUT FRED ASTAIRE DANCE STUDIO – BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Bloomfield Hills is the largest ballroom dance studio in the state of Michigan. Opened in 2006 by Lada and Evan Mountain, the studio is part of a nationwide franchise that requires daily training for its teachers, who are dedicated to teaching dance full-time. The studio’s mission is to enrich lives by building confidence, connection and community through ballroom dance. Learn more at www.fredastaireofbloomfieldhills.com.

ABOUT DANCING WITH THE SURVIVORS®

Dancing With The Survivors® is an evening to celebrate a nationwide community of breast cancer survivors who thrive in their recovery, and make a difference in the lives of other cancer patients. Additional 2015 events will take place in Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Miami Beach, Florida; Morristown, New Jersey; and Princeton, New Jersey.

ABOUT THE PINK FUND

The Pink Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial support, which helps meet basic needs, decreases stress levels and allows breast cancer patients to focus on healing while improving survivorship outcomes. The 90-day grant program covers non-medical cost-of-living expenses, such as health insurance premiums, housing, transportation and utilities. Payments are made to their creditors. For more information, visit www.thepinkfund.org.