FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2016
CONTACT: Tonya Evans, Chair pinkwellchickfoundation@gmail.com

2nd ANNUAL BARB’S BAG® “BAG IT® FOR THE CAUSE” EVENTS
Bring Care and Comfort to Hundreds of Breast Cancer Survivors in Seven Cities

#BagItChicago with Advocate Health Partners

The Pinkwellchick Foundation, Inc. kicks off a season of “Bag It® for the Cause” Days of Service starting Saturday, Sept. 26 through Oct. 16, 2016. This annual service initiative engages volunteers to assemble and distribute free Barb’s Bag® of Care & Comfort chemotherapy bags to cancer treatment centers, nurse navigators and other organization to assist patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Houston Oncology Nurse Navigators 2016

Barb’s Bag® Ambassadors will lead gatherings in seven cities: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Palm Beach (FL), Phoenix, and Sarasota. The Sarasota BAG IT event features a special production of LIFE in the CANCER LANE, written by PWCF’s founder Barbra Watson-Riley, by Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. The event includes panel discussions with her parents, Lois and Dr. Bernard Watson, Board Chair Dean Tonya M. Evans, doctors and health care advocates.

Donation center partners include: White Memorial Medical Center/Adventist Health, Memorial Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Program, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care’s (MECCC) BOLD Program, Singleton Moms, Good Samaritan Medical Center, and The Cancer Care Unit at Advocate Trinity Hospital.

What is Barb’s Bag®?

Barb’s Bag® of Care & Comfort is a tote bag filled with essential items for chemotherapy patients to not only survive but thrive during their treatments. It’s a beautiful and vital chemo survival kit! Pinkwellchick Foundation, Inc., founder, Barbra Watson-Riley, received a “chemo bag” early in her “life in the cancer lane” from a dear friend, and former foundation board member Lori Hall-Armstrong. Barbra was so encouraged and inspired that she blogged regularly about how much she treasured the bag. Today, recipients of these helpful bags cherish the contents and tell similar stories of relief and comfort.

Barb’s Bag® of Care & Comfort is made of high-end materials and include a range of aids and products that Barbra identified as essential when going through chemotherapy. The bag also includes “Real Talk” information about what to expect during chemo and access to stream LIFE in the CANCER LANE to “live, laugh and learn” about other cancer survivor’s personal journeys.

About PWCF

PWCF™ is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable private foundation (seeking public status). Through fundraising efforts, events, survivor essentials (including Barb’s Bag® of Care & Comfort for chemotherapy patients), productions of Life in the Cancer Lane™ and financial support of other organizations, allies and partners, PWCF™:

• raises awareness of breast cancer and heart disease
• supports breast cancer and heart disease research
• works for better detection, diagnosis and cures for breast cancer and heart disease
• supports those diagnosed with breast cancer and heart disease and their families

About the Founder

Barbra Watson-Riley was diagnosed in September 2011 with advanced stage 3 breast cancer. Her treatment included chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, and radiation. Six months after completing treatment, she was diagnosed with metastatic cancer of the lung. Barbra’s valiant journey came to an end on November 7, 2013 but her mission, purpose and play live on.

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Tags: advocate trinity health, bag it for the cause, barbra watson riley, barbs bag, BCAM, chemo, chemo bag, good samaritan medical center, memorial hermann, montefiore, pink well chick, PWCF, westcoast black theatre troupe, white memorial medical center