Every October, supportive communities across the U.S. honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Brooklyn residents are no different.
Local leaders and city officials joined with the Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services on Oct. 3 to tie pink ribbons—the official color of Breast Cancer Awareness Month — along Liberty Avenue Plaza in Cypress Hills.
According to Herbert Regnier, executive director of BACDYS, the subtle show of activism represented a more significant commitment to solidarity.
“This project will bring our community together in solidarity with all survivors and warriors of breast cancer and create even stronger relationships in our neighborhood,” Regnier said in a statement.
Each ribbon included a QR code that connects residents with resources from the American Cancer Society, where they can access free screenings or transportation to medical services.
“Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women and men in the United States,” said Renee Regnier, development manager of ACS Northeast Region. “In 2024, it is expected that 19,160 women in New York will be diagnosed with breast cancer.”
Brooklyn showed up loud and proud for the event, with civic pioneers like Council Member Sandy Nurse, Deputy Borough President Kim Council, and representatives from the office of state Sen. Roxanne Persuad.
Representatives from Metro Plus Health, NYC Emergency Management, and the NYPD Youth Strategy Division also showed their support, letting Brooklyn’s cancer survivors know they’re not alone in their fight.
The ribbon-tying crusade is a precursor to the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, which will be hosted in Brooklyn on Oct. 27. Event hosts say the goal of each campaign is to promote unity and hope across the borough.
“Our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign and the ribbon-tying event are critical steps in raising awareness in the community,” said Renee Regnier.
