Hadassah Expands Cancer Fundraiser
The Best Strokes art unveiling and gala March 18 targets ovarian as well as breast cancer.
Hadassah Greater Atlanta has added ovarian cancer research to the beneficiaries of its Breast Strokes fundraiser and changed its name in its fourth year to Best Strokes.
Best Strokes, Hadassah Bares All for Awareness, Research, Treatment (A.R.T.), is being held at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 18, at the Southern Exchange, 200 Peachtree St., downtown. The event raises money for breast and ovarian cancers and genetic research programs at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and education, advocacy and prevention in the United States.
As in the previous three years, the fundraiser began with Paint Day in November, when 36 survivors of breast or ovarian cancer revealed themselves from collarbone to navel for body paintings that were photographed and transferred onto canvas. Some of those artworks will be sold March 18.
A male survivor was among the models for the first time.
One artist, Dawn Michelle, said, “Words cannot express how thankful I am. It was truly an emotional, moving experience, and I would love to be a part of this event for years to come.”
Model Pamela J. said of her artwork, which depicts a large, glittered butterfly: “Beauty from the struggle; the struggle makes you stronger.”
The Best Strokes event is honoring OB-GYN Dale Bearman, an Atlanta leader in promoting genetic testing to identify the risk of cancer early.
“With the addition of ovarian cancer as a Best Strokes focus, Dr. Bearman is the perfect representative of our work. His focus and advancement of genetics testing to diagnose the risks of ovarian, breast and other women’s cancers demonstrate the purpose of Hadassah and this fundraiser,” Hadassah Greater Atlanta President Sheila Dalmat said.
“I am honored to represent such an important organization and institution,” Bearman said. “Hadassah Medical Organization is known around the world for its leadership in medical research and genetics testing, a subject that I began to explore more than 10 years ago and have since integrated into my practice. Genetics testing prevents cancer for women and men of all ages. I want patients and medical practitioners alike to embrace the significance of genetic testing to prevent cancer for themselves and their patients.”
Bearman, in private practice in Atlanta since 1988, is a member of the Northside Hospital board of directors.
The honorary chair for Best Strokes is oncologist Tamar Peretz, the director of the Sharett Institute of Oncology for Hadassah Medical Organization the past two decades. Her clinical work focuses on breast cancer, cancer genetics and personalized cancer therapy.
Tickets are $100 through Feb. 27, then $118, and can be purchased at beststrokes18.auction-bid.org/microsite or by making out a check to Hadassah and mailing it to Hadassah Greater Atlanta, 1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30338.
comments