Think Pink: Local Breast Cancer Awareness Events

From galas to walks to shopping, here's how you can participate, pledge support and donate to the cause.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and whether you love to shop, attend events, walk or run, there are tons of different ways to support the cause.  Local Dunkin' Donuts (on Attleboro at 1128 Oakhill Ave., 285 County St., 218 South Main St. and 228 South Ave.) on Friday will collect donations from customers in counter canisters for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Addicted to Zumba? Join other Zumba enthusiasts at the Party in Pink™ Zumbathon® in Brookline and enjoy a workout while making your donation. There are even more ways to spread breast cancer awareness this month by supporting national organizations that are fighting for a cure. Research centers like Susan G. Komen for the Cure are selling pink ribbon merchandise and it…

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An Extra Special Birthday for One Attleboro Cancer Survivor

Two relay teams joined together to support Rich DeCoste.

Editor's Note: an earlier version of this story had an error. It has been corrected, and we regret the error. One year ago Rich Decoste was feeling fine, but suddenly the Attleboro resident was blindsided with an unexpected diagnosis of stage four Colon Cancer.With two small children DeCoste and his wife Suzanne settled in for a long battle. He had surgery to remove the tumor only to find that it had already spread to his liver. He's undergone chemotherapy and it seems to be working. DeCoste has at least one more month of chemo and then is hoping to become a candidate for liver surgery to remove any remaining cancer." The DeCoste's strength to battle the deadly disease comes from the love they have for their children and the support they …

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Cancer Survivors Step Off for the First Lap of the Greater Attleboro Relay for Life

Thousands of supporters lined the track to applaud Grater Attleboro Relay Teams.

The North Attleboro High School track was the setting for determination, fight and celebrating survivors. A total of 74 teams comprised of approximately 763 participants came to together for the Greater Attleboro Relay for Life, now in its 13th year. The Relay benefits cancer research. By 7 p.m. the official tally of raised money was $183,000 with more yet to come.  Also at that time there were approximately 3, 500 participants around or on the track. More people were expected to join in the unified goal of raising money for research towards a cancer cure, better treatments for cancer, earlier diagnosis of cancers and also celebrate survivors who have beat cancer. With recent advances in cancer treatments many lucky patients have been able…

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Melissa Riley

9:39 am on Saturday, June 11, 2011

TY Anne! Your picture of the lit track and bleachers are stunning! I'm sorry to have missed you. I was there from 5:00 til 7:30, when I had to put my sweater on! What a fantastic show of support!! You are on your own today as I have a wake to attend.   more ›

Cancer Survivors Participate in Sturdy Memorial's Celebration of Life

Cancer survivors treated at Attleboro's Sturdy Memorial Hospital were recognized for their bravery in fighting the deadly disease.

There were tears, smiles and a whole lot of hugs during Sturdy Memorial Hospital's Celebration of Life, held Saturday afternoon. The event was held to coincide with National Cancer Survivors Day. Hundreds of people filled the Attleboor Elks Lodge to share stories about how they survived through the diagnosis and treatment of the deadly disease.  Bruce Franklin, who had suffered through five years of symptoms, was diagnosed with Stage IV Chronic Lymphocyctic Cancer, a cancer that causes weakness in a person's immune system and his or her bone marrow to fail. "I was the guy who never called in sick, was never late and was considered extremely reliable by my employer," Franklin told the crowd of survivors. "Those things were going to change…

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Patricia Resende

3:31 pm on Sunday, June 5, 2011

Gloria, an additional video of your performance was included with this story. Best, Patricia   more ›

Attleboro Moms Clown Around to Fight Cancer; Public Invited to a Play-Date

A group of Attleboro area moms are working hard to raise funds to help the American Cancer Society.

A group of Attleboro area moms are having a play-date and the public is invited. The women behind the Attleboro Area Moms, a group created for moms and kids to get together to play, share experiences and develop friendships, is planning to raise money by clowning around at Mass Premier Courts in Foxboro Friday, May 27.  While the theme of the play-date is "clowning around," the Attleboro Area Moms Club is serious about why they are holding the play-date. Last year, the women who are from Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield, Foxboro and Pawtucket, RI, wanted to give back to the community, so they formed Team AAM and signed up for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. The group also wanted to show their children the importance of …

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Lynne's Network of Angels Gear Up for Greater Attleboro Relay for Life

One local family rallies to reach its goal to support the Greater Attleboro Relay for Life.

June 10 will mark the sixth year Rebecca Hudson has walked to raise money to support people battling cancer through the Greater Attleboro Relay for Life.  Hudson and her team, Lynne's Network of Angels, have so far raised $4,200 through donations and a golf tournament held Saturday. Still, the team is determined to reach its goal of $10,000. Hudson's participation in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life started when she was a sophomore in high school.  "I always enjoyed volunteering and was drawn to the positive energy that surrounds this event," Hudson said. "Through that organization, I was able to get my family involved as well." The Relay for Life, however, suddenly took on a new meaning for Hudson in late 2008. During Hudson's…

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Five Things To Know Today

Relay for Life Team Captain Meeting, Vets Training and Open House at BCC

Here's what is going on in the 'Boro today.

The Attleboro Veteran's Dept. is hosting a training/orientation at the VFW on Park Street today at 10 a.m.  There's a meeting of the Attleboro Land Trust tonight beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary.  Bristol Community College is hosting an open house between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. tonight. The focus will be on advisement, transferring, student activities and more.  The Attleboro School Committee is holding its curriculum and instruction sub-committee meeting at 6:30 p.m.  The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Team Captain Meeting is being held tonight beginning at 6 p.m. at Waters Church. 

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Captive in a Cancer Cocoon

Part 2: A Puddle of Tears on the Mammogram Room Floor

Part 2: Facing Lumpectomy surgery, a scary ordeal.

Editors Note: To show support of breast cancer, Major League Baseball players, coaches and umpires will sport pink wristbands and pink ribbon decals today, Mother's Day in support of the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer program. Melissa Riley, an Attleboro resident and  breast cancer survivor, shares her story of dealing with breast cancer. Put on your pink shirt and decals today to support Riley and all women who are going to bat against the illness. If you missed Part 1 of the column, you can read it here. Before meeting with the surgeon, I had done more research on the Internet and listened to a few podcasts of doctors describing the lumpectomy procedure. Actually I did more than some research. You couldn’t pull me away from the …

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Melissa Riley

7:30 am on Thursday, May 12, 2011

Thank you ladies for your support. I don't know if I made a conscious decision to share my feelings about what was happening, the stuff that I was going through just came out of me ALL of the time. I don't know WHAT my friends thought, but I just kept talking and talking about it!! If I thought I was to have cancer, I would have said I would be very private about it. The reality of it, was it …   more ›

Group Keeps Fight Against Cancer All in the Family

Relay for Life team "All in the Family" works toward $10,000 goal.

Ovarian cancer, skin cancer and prostate cancer are just some of the cancers that have taken the lives of family members in one Attleboro family. The willingness to support family members who are battling or have lost their battle to the disease that has stricken thousands of families in the Greater Attleboro area is clear for the Hathaway family.  That strong bond of support in the Hathaway family kicks into high gear in the months leading up to the annual American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Greater Attleboro. This year will be the eighth year that the team "All in the Family" participates in the Relay for Life, which is being held June 10 at North Attelboro High School.  Terry Hathaway is credited with first starting the team and…

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