Award-winning journalist Geralyn Lucas, author of “Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy,” will speak at the annual Celebration of Survivorship evening of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program.
Joining her are three other breast cancer survivors: Jeff Flynn of East Meadow, who is a former support group member and currently a hotline volunteer responding to calls from men concerned about breast cancer; Jamaican-born Sonia Avery-Williams of Rockville Center, who is a nurse; and Susan Leach, also of Rockville Center, a former support group member and manager at a health care agency.
The event, which is free, will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18 at Adelphi University’s University Center. Doors open at 6 pm and speakers begin at 7. Light supper will be served and there will be raffles.
In addition, the breast cancer organization Kat’s Ribbon of Hope will be honored. Kat’s Ribbon of Hope’s partnership with the Adelphi program supports their mutual goal to provide assistance to women who would otherwise not have access to quality breast cancer treatment.
Katerina Dinas Raptis, a breast cancer survivor who is the co-founder of KROH, was diagnosed when she was 32.
She says that while having breast cancer was “a nightmare,” she was blessed with the support of her family and excellent medical care. Many women do not have such support so she was determined to help.
She and her husband George Raptis and sister Despina Yarian established Kat’s Ribbon of Hope in 2013.
To make a reservation, visit online — breast-cancer.adelphi.edu — or call 516-877-4325 or email breastcancerhotline@adelphi.edu.