Nineteen-year breast cancer survivor Nancy Barziza with Stephanie Petru. • Kaci Hancock, assistant director of marketing for North Cypress Medical Center;
emcee for the event, Sunny 99.1 FM Morning Personality Dana Tyson; Stacy
Thornton, event coordinator and NCMC director of marketing and professional
relations.
• Staci Henderson, winner of the live auction jewelry set, Dr. Shannon Rivenes,
Urmi Desai and breast cancer survivor Bini George.
• Karla Cowes, Carlen Wills, Judy and Joy McVean wear their pink boas with pride!
• Damita Hines, communications manager for the American Cancer Society, and Janet
Kantenberger, oncology social worker at North Cypress Medical Center.
• Dr. Kim Keller, chief of surgery, North Cypress Medical Center, and Eileen
Campbell, board president of Susan G. Komen, Houston affiliate.
• Breast cancer survivor Adriana Ay poses with the great doctor who treated her,
Kim Keller, M.D.
• Gena Pace and Natalie Kelly • Models Bambi Kocian and Theresa Keel, both account executives with CyFair
Lifestyles and Homes.
Four hundred fifty men, women and young adults—all with a token splash of pink—attended the third annual Project Pink, Fighting Breast Cancer in Style event
hosted by North Cypress Medical Center. With an estimate of over 13,000 women
in Texas being diagnosed with breast cancer this year, it is the most common
cancer among women other than skin cancer. Although the numbers are not as
great, men are also susceptible to the disease.
Last year, the luncheon and style show raised over $25,000 for breast cancer
research, earning the hospital the Community Partnership Award from the Houston
affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This year, numerous CyFair
individuals and organizations helped underwrite the event, the Platinum Sponsor
being Citadel Outsource Group.
Attending and showing their support of the pink affair were many board members
from the Houston affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the American
Cancer Society.
Dana Tyson, morning personality of Sunny 99.1, welcomed the guests and
encouraged everyone to enjoy the day and to bid enthusiastically at the silent
auction. Dr. Jimmy Lee, NCMC vice chairman of the board and an ENT physician,
welcomed the guests as well, delighted that the event could once again be
hosted by the hospital. He also encouraged the guests, comically including his
wife, to actively shop the auction that was produced by over 90 generous CyFair
businesses.
Lunch was served, courtesy of MERCHE! as Dr. Frank A. Morello Jr.,
interventional radiologist; Dr. Kim Keller, general surgeon and chief of
surgery (NCMC); and Debbie Flunker, breast cancer survivor, all gave
informative and inspirational speeches. Tears streamed down the faces of those
who have been touched in some way by breast cancer; having either had it
themselves or had a close friend or family member who has been diagnosed.
As last bids were being secured on the silent auction, the live auction began.
Dr. Shannon Rivenes, wife of North Cypress Medical Center ER doctor Scott
Rivenes, celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary by bidding on and winning a
spectacular diamond necklace and earring set.
During the highly-anticipated style show, cheers erupted as models, many of them
breast cancer survivors, walked the runway, dressed in style by a variety of
Style Show sponsors. Emcee Tyson not only introduced the fabulous outfits but
also provided brief bios of the extraordinary women who were wearing them.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Houston affiliate of Susan G.
Komen for the Cure for purposes of breast cancer research, awareness and early
detection.
Volunteers from the National Charity League, Yellow Rose Chapter, helped
facilitate the event: (l-r) Maranda Gilliam, Rachel Miller, Cathlin O
’Reilly, Carina Patrick, Isabel Mayne, Jelena Galagaza, Emily Geisler and Sydney
Boyenga.
• Breast cancer survivors and gorgeous models for the event: Sharon Vermaas,
Pamela Yurchak, Misty Lindenberger (receiving treatment), Barbara Davis
(receiving treatment) and Adriana Ay.
• Having a great time at the event are: (l-r, front row) Audrey Brehn, Margaret
Homstrom, Babs Schwoegl; (back row) Marketa Fisher and Kay Braziel.
