|
Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor and First Lady Beshear honor breast cancer survivors at 14th annual Celebration of Hope luncheon
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Today Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear joined special guests Jeanne Robertson and University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari in welcoming approximately 1,000 breast cancer survivors from across the Commonwealth to the 14th annual Celebration of Hope. Former First Lady Judi Patton and former Governor Martha Layne Collins were also in attendance.
The celebration was held in downtown Frankfort today at the Frankfort Convention Center from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., following a weekend of Derby festivities.
“Breast cancer touches all of us, affecting our family, friends and neighbors,” said Gov. Beshear. “This luncheon is a tribute to the endurance and determination of breast cancer survivors, giving us the opportunity to celebrate their lives.”
“Since it was founded by former First Lady Judi Patton, the Celebration of Hope has become a cherished tradition for Kentuckians,” said Mrs. Beshear. “We were pleased to have such a large crowd for this event and to recognize breast cancer survivors, who are an inspiration to us all.”
Known as a “tall speaker with a tall sense of humor,” Jeanne Robertson is an award-winning professional speaker and a former Miss North Carolina. She is past president of the National Speakers Association and was the first woman to win the organization’s top honor, the Cavett Award. A member of the Speakers Hall of Fame, Jeanne was also honored by Toastmasters International when it named her the recipient of its Golden Gavel Award, presented annually to one individual who has demonstrated outstanding skills in communication and leadership. Author of three books on humor, Jeanne has produced six DVD/CD humor programs in the last 11 years and can be heard daily on Sirius XM Radio’s Laugh USA, the Family Comedy Channel.
University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari founded the Calipari Family Foundation For Children, which is dedicated to the betterment of the lives of underprivileged children.
Other highlights included a performance by UK Opera singer Keith Dean and remarks by former UK basketball player Mark Krebs, whose mother passed away last year following a battle with breast cancer. The official Kentucky Oaks painting for 2011, created by artist Lesley Humphrey, was auctioned off to benefit the Celebration of Hope.
Holding true to the “pink” theme of breast cancer awareness, the tables on the convention floor and the entryway were decorated with pink and orange cloths, floral arrangements and wooden jockeys. The Kentucky Proud luncheon included quiche, sausage, fried green tomatoes, fruit, ham sandwiches and grits. Approximately 75 volunteers assisted at the event, including members of the Thursday Group, which consists of breast cancer survivors.
The city of Frankfort ran a trolley from downtown to the Governor’s Mansion and back following the event for tours of the mansion. In honor of the cancer survivor celebration, the city of Frankfort also went “pink” by decorating the two I-64 entrances to Frankfort in pink and orange. Downtown merchants also offered discounts for shoppers.
Various merchants and authors were also in booths in and around the convention center lobby. Vendors were asked to donate a portion of all proceeds to the Celebration of Hope.
To promote the importance of health screenings, a pink ambulance performed blood pressure checks. An interactive kiosk sponsored by the Kentucky Commission on Women provided wellness and breast health information to luncheon guests.
Additional support of breast cancer awareness was displayed in the form of a pink Ford Mustang featuring the Horses and Hope logo. Horses and Hope is an organization founded by Mrs. Beshear and the Kentucky Cancer Program that works with the state’s equine industry to provide breast cancer education, screening and treatment referral.
The Celebration of Hope was initiated by former First Lady Judi Patton and has since developed into a celebration of survivorship and an opportunity to educate Kentucky’s women about breast cancer. This gathering of survivors and advocates promotes awareness that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women — both nationally and in Kentucky.
For more information on the Celebration of Hope, visit http://firstlady.ky.gov/celebrationofhope/.
###
|