Media

This video was produced and posted on You Tube to promote the Third Week of October as Male Breast Cancer awareness week globally.

The following link is to the video hosted by Ann-Gayl Ellis and produced by Hernando County Government Broadcasting in Brooksville Florida on April 5, 2012 and which aired on April 13, 2012 on HCGB Channel 622.

I Made It: ‘I felt alone in trying to deal with this disease’
Herb Wagner, 68, Brooksville and Canada

GOAL:

To increase male breast cancer awareness to increase survival rates. To “Add a Little Blue to the Pink.”

WHY I DID IT:

After my modified radical mastectomy in March 2005, the only information I could find on the Internet regarding breast cancer was related to women. There was a lot of information and support both on- and off-line for women, but nothing available for men diagnosed with breast cancer. I felt alone in trying to deal with this disease.

On October 17, 2011 The Lester and Sue Smith Foundation announced 30 finalists in the Pink Well Challenge, a fundraising effort offering $1 million in matching grants to organizations engaged in breast cancer research, prevention, treatment and patient support throughout the U.S.   Dreamed up by Texas oilman, philanthropist and two-time cancer survivor Lester H. Smith, the Pink Well Challenge is symbolized by an active pump jack (oil well) in the heart of West Texas painted bright pink. Smith says it represents how he is using proceeds from his energy industry successes to “pay it forward” in supporting breast cancer research and patient care.  A Man’s Pink was chosen as one of the finalists.


 All finalists were required to produce a video which was hosted on the Pink Well Challenge website from Jan. 16 th to May 15th 2012. A Man’s Pink video includes a brief description of our mission along with a cross-section of 19 men diagnosed with breast cancer from the United States, Canada, Australia and England accompanied, in the background, by portions of two male breast cancer songs, That’s Why We’ve Added the Blue (Wagner & Pollard) and In Pink There is a Shade of Blue (Pollard & Mitchell) that were written and recorded for the video.  The full versions of the songs will be available on CD in March 2012.

The Pink Well Challenge provided us with a fantastic opportunity to fulfill our mission to increase MBC awareness and thereby afford men diagnosed with breast cancer the same survival rates as for women.  We were very successful in our initial fund raising efforts and thank the Pink Well Challenge for their matching donations in both Canada and the United States.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

On September 12, 2010 the Hernando County Commission introduced Hernando County Resolution 2010-137 to establish October 17th -23rd 2010 as Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week in Hernando County Florida. 

On June 11-13, 2010 Peterbourgh’s breast cancer dragon boat team, Survivors Abreast under the auspices of  the International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission (IBCPC) hosted the third International Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Festival on Little Lake at Del Cary Park in downtown Peterbourgh.  The primary objective of IBCPC festivals is to promote breast cancer awareness internationally and to encourage participation from breast cancer survivors.
The event, which included 75 breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams from 7 countries (Australia. Canada, England, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, The United States) was an unprecedented success.

        Video by Bob Fleck  www.bobfleckcreative.com

In December 2009, I gave the following “Seek and Speak Your Story” presentation to the residents and guests at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa Florida.