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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – There are few days during the week when White Plains resident Carolyn Ngbokoli has the strength to function, but she will use one of those to help breast cancer patients like herself get financial relief at the second annual Dancing with the Survivors fundraiser.
The gala pairs breast cancer survivors with dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Tarrytown to perform ballroom style dances, while raising money for The Pink Fund, which provides up to 90 days of financial assistance to breast cancer patients in active treatment. It covers health insurance premiums, housing, transportation, utilities and other non-medical expenses.
"As a breast cancer survivor, this is a very important issue for me,” Ngbokoli said. “When someone is battling for their life they shouldn't have to worry about how they are going to pay rent or keep the water on. I think The Pink Fund and Fred Astaire Dance Studios are doing an amazing thing for breast cancer survivors and I'm proud to be a part of it."
Dancing with Survivors raised $55,000 in its first year. The goal this year is $250,000 for the Pink Fund gala, held Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Fred Astaire Dance Studios across the country. Locally, it will be held at the Stickley Audi & Co on 50 Tarrytown Road, White Plains.
“Everyone is aware of breast cancer,” said Molly MacDonald, founder and CEO of The Pink Fund. “What they aren’t aware of is that while fighting for their lives, many breast cancer patients in active treatment lose their livelihoods. Unable to work, patients often face catastrophic financial losses.”
Ngbokoli was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 34. The mother of two went through a mastectomy, oophorectomy (ovary removal) and chemotherapy. But, she required more treatment when her doctors discovered the cancer had spread to her bones, pushing her to Stage 4.
Those treatments leave her little strength and forced her to stop working. Her husband is the sole-provider for the family. What little strength she has, she will use to join other breast cancer patients Oct. 2 to raise money for The Pink Fund.
Tickets for the event are available now at Eventbrite.
For more information or to make a donation, visit the Dancing with the Survivors Tarrytown website.
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