Second Annual Breast Cancer Expo at The Center Aims To Provide Equitable Access to Information and Support, With a Dash of Fun

Over the many years that it has been a cornerstone of the East End community, the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center has become so much more than a daycare program. It has been a lifeline in many increasingly varied ways for minority and underserved families and individuals, and when Executive Director Bonnie Michelle Canon greenlights a new project or initiative, benefiting those groups is always the main goal.

That spirit and commitment was on display on Saturday when roughly 80 women came to the center for its second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Expo.

Sponsored by the Ellen Hermanson Foundation and with the involvement of several other like-minded community partners, including The Witness Project, Suffolk County Minority Health and The Latina Sisters, the expo is a full-day affair with a full slate of activities and lectures centered around the value and importance of wellness and self-care for women and, most importantly, giving women the kind of support and information they need to prioritize their health and access the kind of preventative care every woman deserves.

The free event, which took place from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., included informational booths with local resources, a community lunch, keynote speakers — including longtime local OB-GYN Dr. Florence Rolston of Hamptons Gynecology and Obstetrics — door prizes, workshops and a wide range of activities. A massage therapist was on hand providing mini massages to attendees; there was yoga and fitness instruction, with modifications for individuals who may be limited in their range of motion; hands-on workshops on journaling, healthy eating, and more.

Last year’s inaugural expo was such a success that the center decided to make it an annual event, with the goal of making it even more expansive and inclusive every year.

The event would not be possible without the support of the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, according to Tamara Clay of the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center.

“They’ve given us a grant to do a lot of work with breast cancer issues, and one of the things we decided to do was the expo,” she said. “Last year was our first year, and this year we decided to add a twist to it, because we know we learn by doing. Instead of just having people go to different tables and sit in one spot and listen to speakers, we still had tables with info about how to get help for breast cancer issues, ways to get screened and have mammograms done, but we also wanted to have something people would remember.”

The recent completion of a brand new and spacious building at the center also made it possible to expand the event, and add the different interactive workshops in various rooms. Everything from massage to facials, aromatherapy, hands-on demonstrations for cooking healthy meals and more was added to this year’s slate, in addition to providing key information for women to help them access breast cancer and breast health care and support.

“The women who came really loved it,” Clay said, adding with a laugh that the massage therapist was “the star attraction.”

Clay spoke about the importance of hosting the expo at the center. “The main thing about bringing it to the center is that it actually brings this information to a population that doesn’t necessarily have access to it otherwise,” she said.

There was a 60-year-old woman at the event who had never had a mammogram before, despite having a family history of breast cancer. Reaching people before they go that long without accessing the care they need is the goal of the event.

“We just really wanted to stress the importance of getting screened regularly,” Clay said, adding that providing support for individuals who might struggle to figure out where they need to get screened, or might be dealing with a language barrier or obstacles because they do not have insurance or adequate insurance was a big focus as well.

Julie Ratner founded the Ellen Hermanson Foundation in honor of her sister, who died after a battle with breast cancer at the age of 42. She spoke about why it’s important to the foundation to support the expo and everything the center is doing to help women access breast health care.

“The event is important because it reaches out and specifically targets populations of women who are quite often overlooked and at risk,” she said. “The Ellen Hermanson Foundation considers itself a grassroots organization, and this is the kind of event that appeals to us. This kind of partnering and sponsorship is exactly what we want to do.”

Ratner and many others have pointed out that rates of breast cancer diagnosis are often higher for Black women, and inadequate access to care is often a big factor in those statistics.

“Access to care is key, and it’s critical that women know about their own health risks and about health benefits, so they can be proactive in taking care of their own health,” Ratner added.

Cannon said she was happy to see the expo continue and grow in its second year, and she’s hopeful that it will continue to be a mainstay event in the community for years to come.

“Breast cancer is taking out women at an all time high, which is why we were strategic in looking at breast cancer awareness and trying to get the word out, because there are preventative measures that can be taken, and proactive things that can be done to prolong life, and we want to get the word out about that,” she said. “It’s a great day for women. It’s a fun day, but also an educational day, and we had so many wonderful vendors and partners on hand.”

To keep the spirit and energy going, the center will host a Breast Cancer Witness Walk on Saturday, November 4, at 9 a.m., with registration starting at 8 a.m.

Participants will gather at the center at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike and will walk to and circle the Bridgehampton Volunteer Fire Department before returning to the center. The cost is $20 per person, $30 per person for group entrants. A light breakfast and lunch will be served, and there will be a breast cancer survivors talk as well.

For more information, contact Kim Jones at kim@bhccrc.org.