PHILADELPHIA (October 21, 2022)—Shelly Hayes, MD, director of Fox Chase Cancer Center Buckingham and associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, was recently presented with an inaugural Earth Angel Award during the 5th Annual Pine2Pink event in Doylestown.
The Pine2Pink Foundation is a community nonprofit that works to aid local breast cancer patients across Bucks County. This year, the organization presented Earth Angel Awards to honor those individuals who have been active in helping the breast cancer community.
“Pine2Pink is an amazing organization. Unlike other breast cancer organizations, all of the money that is raised by Pine2Pink through various fundraising events stays local. I am extremely humbled to be receiving this Earth Angel Award,” said Hayes, who received the honor earlier this month at the launch event for Pine2Pink.
The organization hosts a month-long program in October in which thousands of pink lights are illuminated around towns and street names are changed to Pink Street to increase breast cancer awareness. Additionally, over 100 stores and restaurants are participating in the organization’s “Shop, Eat, and Drink Pink” program, where special items are sold. A percentage of those sales are donated to Pine2Pink.
“I feel so incredibly fortunate to be a part of Pine2Pink and that my patients are able to benefit from all the good work they do. I have seen how scary and life changing a diagnosis of breast cancer is and how impactful the work that Pine2Pink is on our patients. To ease their burden, even in small ways, is invaluable,” said Hayes.
The program is designed to raise money to help individuals across Bucks County who are in treatment and recovery. Pine2Pink beneficiaries include Fox Chase Buckingham, other hospitals in Bucks County, and the Kin Wellness and Support Center, whose executive board Hayes serves on. Since launching in 2018, Pine2Pink has helped raise $250,000 and assisted over 1,000 local breast cancer patients.
Pine2Pink has started and funded many programs, including home food delivery, purchase of infusion chairs, treatment transportation, patient financial out-of-pocket support, cold-capping, integrative services, and comfort bags for newly diagnosed patients. To learn more about Pine2Pink, go to @Pine2Pink on Facebook and Instagram.