The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is a local grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to preventing environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy and changes to public policy. MBCC will be holding the Cape Cod location of their annual Against the Tide fundraising event at DCR's Nickerson State Park in Brewster, MA on August 17th.

Current national breast cancer rates estimate that ONE in EIGHT women alive today will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime. This represents a 40% increase in incidence in the past 40 years. However, breast cancer is not a disease which only affects women. MBCC supporter, Pete Devereaux, who served as a U.S. Marine at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, was diagnosed with Stage IIB Male Breast Cancer in 2008. Months after his diagnosis, Pete received a letter from the government informing him and thousands of other Marines that they may have been exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. As of 2013, there are 83 confirmed cases of breast cancer among the Marines from Camp Lejeune, the largest male cluster ever reported.

MBCC is the only breast cancer non-profit working closely with a research organization (Silent Spring Institute) to investigate preventable, environmental causes of the disease including water contamination like that at Camp Lejeune. This work is funded in part through the annual Against the Tide events where 100% of the money raised by event participants goes towards MBCC’s work to change the legacy of breast cancer for future generations.

"We are very fortunate to have such tremendous support from citizens of Massachusetts as well as surrounding New England states demanding greater protection of their children's future health in our effort to stop breast cancer before it starts," says MBCC Executive Director, Cheryl Osimo. "MBCC often is overshadowed by the larger, national breast cancer organizations and we depend on our generous supporters to continue our work."

We invite the nation to support our Against the Tide event and goal of breast cancer prevention in any way possible. The family-friendly, morning event on Cape Cod consists of the choice of one or more competitive or recreational swim, kayak, walk or run components, as well as a "Splash & Dash" Aquathlon where participants "splash" in the one-mile swim and "dash" in the 5K or 10K run.

Join us on the beach from 7:00am to 12:00pm at the 14th annual Against the Tide event on August 17th in Brewster, MA. To register, visit www.mbcc.org/swim or call 800-649-MBCC for more information. If you cannot attend the event, please consider making a pledge to Pete Devereaux’s fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/PeteDevereaux.

Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition

Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition

The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition is dedicated to preventing environmental causes of breast cancer through community education, research advocacy, and changes to public policy.

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