Peggy Dever, Sue Ryan, Connie Holdridge, and Kathy Wiz at the 2012 Broadwalk on the Boardwalk event at CAMP Rehoboth.
Partnership for Women's Health
For years, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and CAMP Rehoboth, a gay and lesbian community service organization in Rehoboth Beach, have been working together to educate the community about women’s health issues. “It’s a small community,” said Steve Elkins, Executive Director of CAMP Rehoboth. “It’s important that we work together and focus on the community’s health needs.”
Each year DBCC has an outreach table during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and attends the Women’s FEST Weekend each April to talk to attendees about breast health and healthy living. CAMP Rehoboth also generously lends their Community Room to DBCC to use for Peer Mentor Trainings and Survivor Socials. Last May, the Community Room hosted the First Annual Paint the Town Pink—an art sale led by artist Andrew Criss that featured an auction of dinner reservations for local restaurants. The event raised funds for DBCC and CAMP Rehoboth and brought about awareness of breast cancer. Elkins explains that CAMP “looks for ways to focus on breast cancer not only in October but throughout the year.”
In April 2011, the CAMP Rehoboth Women’s FEST added a special event to benefit DBCC—the “Broadwalk on the Boardwalk.” The event was created by CAMP Rehoboth Board Member Kathy Wiz to honor her sister, Anne Marie, who battled an aggressive form of breast cancer, and to educate others. The Broadwalk is a non-competitive walk down the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk “to get women together because they need education and resources and also to honor those that traveled their breast cancer journey.” For the past two years, hundreds of women and men have gathered at CAMP Rehoboth to walk down the boardwalk with pink boas, t-shirts and pink accessories. Last year’s walk ended with a special ceremony for survivors on the beach with everyone in a big circle. “It was a great feeling of unity and community,” Kathy said.
The Broadwalk is unique in that there is no registration fee or minimum donation amount. “I wanted to make sure anyone and everyone who wanted to support the cause could do just that,” Kathy said. In 2011, donations from the walk raised $4,850 and in 2012 it raised $6,590 for DBCC. Participation increased as well with 162 registered participants the first year and 202 registered the next. “In 2012, we also saw more men participate and we were excited that dogs were allowed to walk as well!” Kathy said. “We are certainly proud to partner with DBCC. I feel that it really synergizes the event and helps it grow in numbers, diversity, and spirit.” This year’s Broadwalk on the Boardwalk will be held on Sunday, April 14.
Kathy explains that DBCC is also instrumental in providing education and resources. In the past, there was a DBCC information table with brochures and materials including information about breast cancer in men.
Elkins also agrees that providing education and resources is important. “We’re a village and we have to take care of each other. What health issues affect some people are important to everyone,” said Elkins. “We’re always looking for ways to work together. Collaboration is the only way to get things done and it’s so important to focus on the health needs of the community because that benefits everyone.”
DBCC Program Manager Connie Holdridge has played a big role in the partnership with CAMP. “We’re so thrilled to be able to partner with CAMP Rehoboth on these important women’s issues. It really is a wonderful partnership that brings together two organizations that have a focus on health,” she said.