Dear Colleagues:

On Sunday, October 19, please join us and more than 1,800 HHC employees in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. As a Flagship Sponsor, HHC is now in its sixth year of enthusiastic participation and support for the Making Strides Walk in all five boroughs. Last year, supporting their patients, friends, family members, and in many cases themselves as survivors, HHC individuals and teams led the way with a total contribution of $250,000 to the American Cancer Society through their support for Making Strides. We'd like to surpass that number this year, because our donations are one important way we show our commitment to fighting cancer. HHC employees also demonstrate our deep commitment through the work we do everyday in our hospitals, in our clinics, and in the community.

You can sign up to walk in many ways – team leaders throughout HHC can help you (click here for a list), or you can sign up online at www.cancer.org, the American Cancer Society’s Web site, and support an HHC team at any event where you work or live. Your donations and support help HHC teams and ACS meet their goals, and help the Corporation stay front and center in the effort. All donations to Making Strides are directed – 100% – to research and care in the communities they came from. What happens in New York stays in New York.

Between now and October 19, many facilities will have fundraising and team-building events. Together with leaders from ACS, we've already met team leaders at most HHC facilities, and drawn great inspiration from these meetings and the special fundraiser activities you've organized. In our opinion, you guys are great.

The Central Office fundraiser will take place on Thursday, October 2. In the lobby of 125 Worth Street from 7 a.m to 1 p.m., HHC Central Office employees will be able to sign up to walk, make a donation, and talk with representatives from ACS. Please stop in at our table. All are welcome, and in addition to the opportunity to join the HHC team, you’ll be able to get valuable preventive information and materials about cancer. We’re organizing a similar event for HHC employees at 160 Water Street in the near future.

On October 2, one easy way that anyone can donate to Making Strides is to bring your old cell phones to the lobby of 125 Worth Street and simply drop them in the box that will be there from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. HHC will receive a donation credit for every phone we collect, so find them, bring them, and drop them off. Every little bit helps.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is HHC’s way to make a statement about the challenge that cancer represents in all our professional and personal lives. It can also be your way to stand up and represent yourself, your family, friends and neighbors. Please join us.

Thanks,