Community comes together to celebrate breast cancer awareness

Breast cancer survivors and their children and grandchildren filled the Yuma Civic Center at the 19th Annual “Celebration of Life” event, featuring a fashion show and a guest speaker. All proceeds from the event benefit the guests of honor–survivors and patients.

“It’s usually a really heavy burden on them financially, and so with this coalition we’re able to help pay for certain bills,” explains Leslie Short, Women’s health director for the Regional Center for Border Health. “Maybe even electricity bills, a water bill, just someway to help ease the burden that comes with the diagnosis of cancer.”

The event also highlighted a major support system for survivors–their families.

“There’s a lot of people involved and a lot of people are affected,” shares Robby Wagner, the motivational speaker at the event. “A lot of people lose someone or the person who has cancer is going through it.”

“They really loved helping me out, and it was a real fun event for them and for myself,” shares Beatrice Alegria, breast cancer survivor, about her family.

Alegria was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, received chemotherapy treatment for a year, and has been a survivor ever since. She looks forward to the celebration of life event every year.

“They do your hair, they do your makeup, and in one day they make everyone that has breast cancer special,” says Alegria.

The celebration of life event is not the only day Beatrice’s grandchildren thinks she’s special. They celebrate her life every day.

“She survived cancer and she loves us,” shares Analy and David Alegria about their grandmother.

The event was presented by the Yuma County Breast and Cervical Cancer Coalition and they worked alongside the Regional Center for Border Health and Dillard’s.

This was the first year that children and grandchildren attended the event along with survivors