Chris DeLeonardo and Vanessa Baugh. Photography by Rod Millington.
See gallery from Making Strides Kick-off Party.
More than 150 guests came out for the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" kick-off party, held at Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Lakewood Ranch. The American Cancer Society hosted the evening that was pretty in pink, from the linens to the balloons to the boas worn by many women in the room.
The Making Strides event, the 15th annual, will take place on Oct. 18 at the Sarasota Polo Club.
One of the highlights of that event will be the attempt to make the Guinness Book of World Records by forming the largest pink ribbon of human beings ever created. To get the record, 6,847 people will need to join together and form a Human Awareness Ribbon.
At last year's Making Strides event, more than 8,000 walkers raised more than $335,000 in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
The kick-off party began with a festive reception, followed by a program led by this year's event chair, Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh. She reminded guests that next year, more than 15,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, saying, "That's too many."
"I, like so many others, have known so many people who have died from breast cancer," said Baugh. "Just last week another friend died from the disease. Chairing this event is an honor for me. I do it for all those we have lost."
Next up was Sandi Wall, marketing director of event sponsor of Sarasota Orthopedic Associates, and its team, "Real Docs Wear Pink." She spoke about ways her company became involved, by creating a variety of different company-wide events including a pink day, bridge walk, yoga class, spin class and more.
Next to speak was Deborah Hamilton, mother of seven children, who shared her own story of survival. "Cancer invaded my body and my life," she said. By learning to "thrive and not just survive," she did indeed survive. She has gone back to school to become a holistic health coach, to assist other cancer survivors.
Also speaking was Raylene Gaines who has dealt with cancer in her own family, and is a Making Strides pace setter, raising at least $2,500 for the event.
Seen at the event were John Saputo, Aly Kerwin, Mimi Tran, Fred Lopez, David Strickland, Sandi Wall, Monica Strickland, Wanda Martinetto, Carol Banic, Karen Jay, Terri Mazure, Cynthia Dunlap, Anita and Kelly Devine, John Rudd, Marie Whitcomb, Sandy Gross and Miranda Spinner, among many others.
