American Cancer Society-sponsored day of fundraising Monday

National Denim Day by smithtownradio

Breast cancer survivor Debbie and family (Photo: James Meierotto for New York News Connection)

New York (New York News Service) - Employees can get casual – blue-jeans casual – at the office next month as part of a national fundraiser for the fight against breast cancer. On National Denim Day, workers pay $5 or more to wear jeans for a day on the job.

Laurie Rappa with the American Cancer Society says if you want to get some folks together and take part, go to the website www.denimday.com.

“You can register a team. When you do that, you will receive a tool kit, a step-by-step guide, a poster, donation forms and envelopes, and some pink ribbon pins to use.”

Since the event began in 1996, Lee National Denim Day participants have raised more than $86 million for the cause. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

Rappa says the goal for this October is $3.5 million.

“The proceeds this year are all benefitting the American Cancer Society and going to support breast cancer research, as well as community-based screening programs and lodging services provided by the American Cancer Society.”

Rappa says the funds for breast cancer research are going to good use, as evidenced by the drop in mortality figures.

“In the last two decades, the death rate from breast cancer has declined 32 percent. We have one-third more women surviving breast cancer today than we did 20 years ago.”

More information is available at www.denimday.com.

Editor’s Note: The New York News Service is responsible for the content of this article