On August 8, CSHL and local breast cancer organizations received checks from funds raised by the 2012 Long Island 2 Day Walk To Fight Breast Cancer.
Cold Spring Harbor, NY — On August 8, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and 13 local breast cancer organizations received checks from funds raised by the 2012 Long Island 2 Day Walk To Fight Breast Cancer.
The $33,000 received this year from LI2DAY will support the research of CSHL cancer scientist Mikala Egeblad, Ph.D., who is investigating effects of the immune system on resistance to chemotherapy and promotion of metastasis in breast cancer. Dr. Egeblad and her group have shown that both tumor-promoting and tumor-killing monocytes, a type of white blood cell, are attracted to breast cancer cells after chemotherapy. They have developed a promising strategy to shift the balance toward the tumor-killing type.
“Funding from LI2DAY has been critical to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s research efforts aimed at developing new therapeutic strategies for breast cancer,” said CSHL Director of Research David L. Spector, Ph.D., “and we thank all of the local community who participated in the walk in support of our research.”
Over 400 walkers participated in this year’s LI 2Day on June 9-10, which raised over $600,000, bringing LI2DAY’s fundraising total to over $4 million in nine years.
The walk is a collaborative effort with hundreds of volunteers, including those from Suffolk County Parks department, Suffolk county Police Precinct 7, EMS and medical personnel, students from the New York College of Pediatric Medicine, youth groups, local politicians, as well as local businesses that donated time, talents and services to help create the inspiring weekend.
LI2DAY was founded by Ginny Salerno in 2004 to address the high incidence of breast cancer and in recognition of the need to raise awareness, provide relevant services and generate funding for breast cancer research.
“I have done other walks and decided Long Island should have a walk where 100% of the funds stay here to address the high rate of breast cancer,” Ms. Salerno commented. “After having had the experience of caring for relatives with cancer, I know that it is emotionally, physically and financially debilitating. Service programs we seek to promote and fund have a tremendous impact in the fight against breast cancer.”
Each year LI2DAY earmarks $15,000 for six scholarships that are awarded to local high school seniors with a parent or guardian who has been affected by breast cancer. CSHL heads up the LI2DAY Scholarship Committee. To date, $120,000 has been granted in LI2DAY Scholarships.
LI2DAY accepts support throughout the year. Visit www.li2daywalk.org for upcoming fundraising events.
On August 18, 2012, the 2nd Annual Hope Runs Here 5K Breast Cancer Run/Walk will take place at Westfield Sunrise Mall in Massapequa. Register at www.hoperunshere.org.
Registration will open in October 2012 for the 10th Anniversary LI2Day Breast Cancer Walk which will be held on June 8th–9th, 2013.
Written by: Communications Department | publicaffairs@cshl.edu | 516-367-8455