Loma Linda University Plastic Surgeons Team with National Organization to Fight Breast Cancer at 2016 “The Pink Runway” Educational Program in Riverside, California

It was a night of education, fashion, and tears as the Eighth Annual Pink Runway was held in Riverside on October 19, 2016. This year’s more intimate venue lent itself to the panels, question and answer sessions, and easy interaction between survivors and the treatment team from the Loma Linda University Department of Plastic Surgery. The Pink Runway has been recognized as one of only four events in California who are official partners with the national Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day (BRA Day) developed by the American Society of Plastic Surgery (breastreconusa.org).

According to the organizing committee, “This recognition is in response to the powerful role we have collectively played over the past few years to ensure the passage in Washington, DC of the Breast Cancer Patient Education Act in March of this year.” Dr Subhas Gupta, chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery, stated “We are all very proud of the efforts of the national organization, and proud that the collective voice was amplified from the Inland Empire via the Pink Runway. In fact, [attendees] annual participation has helped us develop the Pink Runway in to the powerful change agent it has become for breast cancer patients and their families seeking information about breast reconstruction.”

The event began with a welcome from Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey who unveiled and announced a formal proclamation creating Pink Runway Day, saluting the Pink Runway team for advancing education and awareness around breast cancer reconstruction and for all that they do to empower people. The Mayor was then presented with the Geeta Sugandh Sunshine Award, presented annually to individuals who have helped shine light on the lives of breast cancer patients. The award was presented in memory of her grandmother by Saira Gupta. The Pink Runway team was led by Cherl Tidwell who was very excited that the event was so well attended. “We decided to keep registration open until the last minute because of the overwhelming demand from our local community. We are very grateful to all of the nearly 200 people who came out this evening.” The official sponsor for the event was LifeCell Corporation, an Acelity Company, that is a leading breast cancer reconstruction product manufacturer. Other sponsors included Allergan, GloBiotics SkinCare, Loma Linda University Health Cancer Center, and Nelly’s Makeup. Over forty local businesses either contributed products for the door prize giveaways.

The main focus this year was education around breast cancer reconstruction, and the "Myth Busters – Breast Reconstruction Panel” showcased four surgeons from Loma Linda University dispelling common myths on this topic. Drs Jerry Chidester, Rachel Ford, Michael Hill and Hahns Kim then joined breast cancer survivors for a panel event to field questions from the attendees regarding breast cancer reconstruction. At the end of the educational program, survivors walked down the pink carpeted runway and had their photos taken by the enthusiastically cheering crowd.

“We had established an aggressive target for attendance, and I couldn't be happier that we met and exceeded this target. I'm also extremely proud of our entire team of volunteers who made this happen by incredibly hard work,” said Dr Gupta.

The Pink Runway team announced that the date for the 2017 event will also fall on Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day. Updates will appear on both their Facebook site, www.facebook.com/thepinkrunway and on their Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/thepinkrunway

The Department of Plastic Surgery at Loma Linda University provides world-class comprehensive care for aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery patients. They have performed numerous pioneering procedures, and are pioneers in cosmetic surgery, breast reconstruction, skin substitutes, and wound healing.

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This release was published on openPR.