OctoberBreast set for Oct. 26 at Miceli’s
From Our Hearts will be holding its annual OctoberBreast 2014 at Miceli’s Restaurant in Matlacha Sunday, Oct. 26, from noon until 6 p.m. The event is held to raise funds through the sale of a calendar and the artwork used to create the calendar.
Students of Pine Island Elementary School enter their art in the contest. From those entries 13 winners are selected – one for the cover and one for each calendar month.
“We have so many excellent entries it makes it difficult to choose just 13 winners,” Mary Scott said. “Last year we were able to raise $3,350 and we hope to do even better this year.”
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a collaboration of national public service organizations, professional medical associations and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease and provide greater access to services.
From Our Hearts is a small organization with a big heart. It is dedicated “to help in the fight to find a cure for the debilitating disease of breast cancer and help those that for one reason or another need a helping hand.”
“In addition to the auction, we will be selling calendars,” Scott said. “Calendars are available for sale and probably the best way to get one is to call me at 239-898-7969. They are great holiday, birthday or anniversary gifts and they help us in the fight against breast cancer.”
Music at the event will be provided by the band Stringtown and Cathy Eagle, and this year’s event is sponsored by Miceli’s Restaurant, From Our Hearts and Fox 4.
In 2001, a handful of Pine Island residents raised funds to send a local resident to a three day, 60-mile breast cancer walk. That initial effort started with a few local musicians playing music at the Island Hardware store in St. James City and passing the hat. Their efforts to raise more funds continued and progressed into the First Annual Pine Island Breast Fest. In order to become more effective in their fund raising efforts, the not-for-profit organization called From Our Hearts Inc. was formed.
Today From Our Hearts Inc. still consists of a small group of Pine Island residents whose only focus is to raise funds to provide breast cancer screening and treatment for any Pine Island resident who is in need of financial assistance. One hundred percent of the funds we raise are donated to Partners for Breast Cancer Care and Regional Cancer Center/Lee Memorial Health System to be used only for residents of the Greater Pine Island area. These two organizations facilitate the qualification process and distribution of From Our Hearts funds to provide screening and treatment for Pine Island residents.
The group always welcome new volunteers to the organization. It meets the third Tuesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m., in the Pine Island Fire House at the Island Center. Please join us!
Contact From Our Hearts Inc. at P.O. Box 356, Matlacha, FL 33993; e-mail wecare@fromourheart.org or call 239-233-7437.