Friends of Mel Foundation to Benefit From Hockey East Skating Strides

HINGHAM, Mass., January 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Friends of Mel Foundation (FOM) has been chosen as a beneficiary of the Women's Hockey East Association (WHEA) 5th annual Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer. Over the past four years, Skating Strides has raised over $114,000 for cancer organizations. The participating WHEA teams include Boston College, Boston University, University of New Hampshire, University of Connecticut, Providence College and Northeastern University.

This year marks the 5th year that FOM has been chosen to receive generous donations through the Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer event. WHEA has partnered with FOM to discover and empower organizations that provide direct support to breast cancer patients and their families.  At the same time, it is their goal to raise awareness about breast cancer.  According to the American Cancer Society, one out of eight American women who live to be 85 will be diagnosed with this illness.  This year, FOM is partnering with the Women's Hockey East Association to provide funding to The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing, the Vermont Cancer Center at the University of Vermont, and The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Research Foundation in Rhode Island.

"Our goal is to find grass root organizations that directly impact the needs of breast cancer patients.  At the same time, we believe it is important to bring the funds back to the states where the colleges are located," says Pauline Alighieri, executive director of the Friends of Mel Foundation.

Ms. Alighieri has been invited to drop the game puck at five of the eight games – Friday, January 21 at 7PM (BC at Providence); Saturday, January 22 at 2PM (UNH at NU); Friday, January 28 at 7PM (UCONN at BU); Saturday, January 29 at 4PM (BU at UCONN); and Sunday, January 30 at 2PM (NU at BC).  In the spirit of raising awareness, the WHEA will sport pink jerseys, pink sticks, and pink laces for all eight games.  For more information about the Skating Strides games visit www.hockeyeastonline.com.

About the Friends of Mel Foundation

The mission at the Friends of Mel Foundation is to provide quality cancer care for the whole patient by funding cancer research, education and support. Their goal is to discover creative and promising projects that impact patient care at both the grass root and institutional levels. To date, through donations received for Mel's Bracelet, over $2,500,000 has been gifted to programs that share their vision. Currently, the Friends of Mel Foundation is in the process of planning their first conference dedicated to cancer survivors and their caregivers; The Art of Living – Life Beyond Cancer. It is scheduled on June 4th, 2011 at the Marriott in Quincy, MA. To make a donation and join the thousands of women around the world who are wearing Mel's Bracelets, visit www.friendsofmel.org or call 781-740-2511.

SOURCE Friends of Mel Foundation