Breast Cancer Alliance Annual Benefit: Over 900 Supporters Kick Up Their Heels & Step Out for Pink

(Greenwich, Conn. - November 14, 2013) -- Over 900 arch supporters Kicked Up their Heels and Stepped Out for Pink, raising $1.3 million, at the Breast Cancer Alliance 18th Annual Luncheon & Fashion Show on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich. Kathy Clark, president of Breast Cancer Alliance, was proud to announce that the organization has raised more than $18 million over the past 18 years.

The event, which was sponsored by Mitchells|Richards, was co-chaired by Julie Johnson and Loren Taufield. Twelve breast cancer survivors, both male and female, took to the runway modeling fashion by the esteemed clothier.

The featured guest speaker at the luncheon was Pat Battle, co-anchor for "Weekend Today in New York" and senior correspondent assigned to NBC4. Her message was clear: "Early detection saves lives."

Dr. Elisa Port, Battle's surgeon and chief of breast surgery, co-director of the Dubin Breast Center at Mt. Sinai Hospital, as well as a member of the Breast Cancer Medical Alliance Advisory Board, said, "Mammograms are one of the most basic screening tests. It is simply indisputable that mammograms save lives."

In fall 2010, Battle was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery. Since then, she has documented her personal journey, including sharing her story in an hour-long special "Talk for a Cure", which aired on "Weekend Today" and earned two New York Emmy nominations. The show brought an unprecedented response from viewers. Hundreds of women reached out to Battle, many of who had never had a mammogram.

Today, Battle is an inspirational role model in the fight to end the disease that impacts one in eight women in the U.S. She has made early detection a mission by urging women to make annual mammograms a priority in their lives.

Famed fashion designer Manolo Blahnik designed two styles of shoes specifically for this year's Breast Cancer Alliance benefit. The sleek pink suede and satin pumps, which are available exclusively at Richards in Greenwich, come with a dedication to BCA imprinted on the soles. Twenty percent (20%) of proceeds from sales through November will benefit the organization. From the hit TV series "DC Cupcakes," Georgetown Cupcake helped the event end on a sweet note, having donated over 1,000 edible custom cupcake centerpieces.

Corporate event donors for the Breast Cancer Alliance event were:

DIAMOND ANGELS: Burton Capital Management, Greenwich Hospital, Mitchells|Richards

PLATINUM ANGELS: PepsiCo

SILVER ANGELS: Moffly Media, Stamford Hospital

BRONZE ANGELS: Equinox, Nestle Waters, N.A., Williams and Company

ANGEL: Kekst and Company

Breast Cancer Alliance is a fast-growing dynamic organization. A partial list of recent grant recipients includes Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Dana Farber, Greenwich Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, Stamford Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Whitehead Institution and Yale University.

The mission of the Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, the organization invests in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the uninsured and underserved.

For more information, please go to www.breastcanceralliance.org