KILAUEA — Ending the month of October’s “Breast Cancer Awareness” in pink aspirations are three Kaua‘i men who proudly wear pink for those they love by hosting a bake sale Saturday, Oct. 31, raising funds for breast-cancer awareness in Kilauea from 1 to 4 p.m., at 4303 Kilauea Rd.
There will be no tricks, just treats, as the three Real Men Wear Pink Kaua‘i Candidates, Dustin Mahi with Mahi Tents and Events, Anthony Sandobal Jr. with Hawai‘i Foodservice Alliance, and Eric Santiago with Aloha Fix-it.
Mahi, from Lihu‘e, said he has attended and participated in the Kaua‘i Relay For Life events for many years as part of different teams and on his own with his ‘ohana.
“Recently we became aware of Hope Lodge on O‘ahu and the services they offer,” Mahi said. “We learned that they are a recipient of funds raised through the American Cancer Society. Knowing how funds are being distributed has made me want to contribute to the cause.”
Also from Lihu‘e, Santiago said he is self-motivated about wearing pink to bring awareness to breast cancer.
“While my family has not been directly affected by breast cancer, my family has suffered the loss of a loved one due to cancer,” Santiago said. “My hope is that I can help ACS with their efforts in raising awareness and funds to help find a cure for cancer.”
Sandobal, from Kapa‘a, is participating in this campaign because he has a close family member who is a breast-cancer survivor.
“I want to help raise awareness around this topic because it’s important for not just women but for men to be aware that they can be affected by breast cancer and doing monthly self breast examinations are important,” Sandobal said. “My hope is to raise some funds that can contribute to finding a cure.”
Community leaders from across the state are uniting to fight breast cancer with the ACS Hawai‘i Pacific region by participating in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign.
Throughout October, Real Men Wear Pink participants have been encouraging community members to take action in the fight against breast cancer.
Each Real Men Wear Pink Hawai‘i participant accepts a fundraising challenge and pledges to help Hawai‘i receive recognition as the top state in the nation for spreading breast-cancer awareness.
Kaua‘i native Kala Alexander is an O‘ahu candidate under the same program.
According to ACS, an estimated 1,300 people in Hawai‘i will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, while 79% of cancer patients have reported delays in treatment due to the pandemic. Breast cancer is still the second-leading cause of cancer death in women, and it is the most-common cancer diagnosed in women other than skin cancer.
For more information about breast cancer or the Real Men Wear Pink campaign, call 808- 561-2107.
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Stephanie Shinno, features, education, business, and community reporter can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
