Put on your costumes and grab your treat bags for Gift of Life’s Julie Richardson Procter 5K Ribbon Run Monster Dash on Saturday, Oct. 26, in downtown Beaumont at the Civic Center from 8 a.m. to noon benefitting the organization’s breast and ovarian cancer programs.
Contributors are encouraged to “lace up to save lives” and pledge their support for this important cause. With a multitude of remarkable recognition and benefit opportunities, this is an extraordinary occasion to further local women’s health issues.
This year’s event chairs are six phenomenal women from the Southeast Texas Women in Industry organization including Katie Celli (ISTC Director of Client & Community Relations, GTBR Executive Director); Sadé Chick (Port of Beaumont Director of Corporate Affairs); Deborah Drago (Entergy Texas Industrial Account Executive); Claire Jackson (Motiva Social Responsibility & Community Affairs Manager); Mary Ann Reid (Golden Pass LNG Community Affairs Advisor); and Jametrice Whitmore (ExxonMobil Beaumont Area Public & Government Affairs Advisor).
“Our mission for Southeast Texas Women in Industry is to empower and connect women throughout in the area” said Celli, who is also the executive director of the organization. “Young women in high schools who express interest in industry, our female leaders, executives within the organization act as mentors to help guide them with vast career opportunities – you don’t have to leave Southeast Texas to work in the oil and gas industry. This year alone we have given out 31 scholarships to those who have expressed interest in working in industry.
“Southeast Texas Women in Industry are women run and women focused, so it’s not hard to connect why we support the Gift of Life, who is also women run and women focused. They provide vital resources, which help with early detection as well as raising awareness for breast and ovarian cancer.”
According to Celli, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women and that one in every eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. She also stated that ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women.
“Just this year, it’s estimated that 25,000 women in Texas will be or have been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. Nearly 4,500 of those will pass away. Gift of Life provides early detection through screening and teaches proactivity in women’s health.
“Southeast Texas Women in Industry is a very large group of women and we six ladies serving as event chairs are elated to support the Gift of Life and all the great things they do for our community.”
Generously underwritten by Presenting Sponsors Robin Dauphin, Optimus Steel, Provost Umphrey Law Firm and Quality Mat Company and Title Sponsors H-E-B and Jason’s Deli, this spooktacular event will feature a Celebration of Hope Ceremony at 8 a.m. with a special concert by Theatre Under the Stars – Youth Company, 5K Trick or Treat Route, Kiddie Zone, candy galore and many more fun activities for all. The festivities also include a Wellness Village with vital educational materials and interactive healthy lifestyle activities.
The event also pays tribute to Angels Among Us Honorees, outstanding women who advance breast and ovarian cancer awareness throughout Southeast Texas through community service.
This year’s honorees are: Dorrie Adolph (Antioch Missionary Baptist Church First Lady); Carol Hearn (community advocate); Tara Holder (Beaumont Internal Medicine & Geriatric Associates Nurse Practitioner and Home Instead owner); Carrie Martin (community advocate); Cris McLeod (Lutcher Theater Director of Operations); and Haley Morrow (Beaumont Police Department Public Information Officer).
Gift of Life’s Ribbon Run is named for Procter, a beloved board member and local attorney who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2011 at the young age of 51. Proceeds from the Ribbon Run advance Gift of Life’s women’s health program that provides critical ovarian and breast cancer educational information to thousands of Southeast Texans.
“This event benefits such an important cause because so many women in our community depend on these services,” said Gift of Life Medical Director Gwendolyn Lavalais, MD. “Already this year, Gift of Life has helped detect cancer in 19 women who are navigated through care.”
Special appreciation to the Young Men’s Business League (YMBL) for adopting the Ribbon Run as the group’s community project along with Gift of Life’s October Pink & Teal Ribbon Campaign when the men install 8-ft ribbons throughout Southeast Texas. These extraordinary volunteers play an integral role in the orchestration of the Ribbon Run and annually donate funds to the organization’s free breast health medical services.
Ribbon Run registration is now open at golribbonrun.org. Participants can register for $35 and begin fundraising for the organization. Breast, ovarian and gynecological cancer survivors are free, as well as children 6 years old and younger. Onsite registration begins at 6a.m.
For Ribbon Run information, sponsorship opportunities or to register, please call Gift of Life at (409) 833- 3663 or visit golribbonrun.org.
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