PORTSMOUTH, NH & NEW YORK, NY, OCTOBER 7th, 2019 – Moore Fight Moore Strong (MFMS) – an organization with a mission to carry on the legacy of their best friend, Jessica Moore, to raise awareness for Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) – has worked to unite over 70 locations across the globe to illuminate major landmarks in green, pink and teal to raise awareness for Metastatic Breast Cancer on and around MBC Awareness Day on Sunday, October 13th. The “Light Up MBC” campaign has been initiated in support of Annapolis-based non-profit METAvivor Research and Support, Inc.
The Memorial Bridge near Jessica’s hometown of Portsmouth, New Hampshire was the first landmark to light up for the disease in October 2017, just five months after Jessica’s passing at the age of 36. Prior to Jessica’s passing, she said she thought it would be amazing to light a landmark for MBC to raise awareness for METAvivor Research and Support and that conversation has guided us to take this internationally.
“Lighting landmarks doesn’t help the cause if people don’t understand the reason behind it,” stated Laura Inahara, Executive Director of Moore Fight Moore Strong. “That is where the help of the public is necessary to share our current social media posts about the lightings and to create their own both prior to and on the evenings of the lightings. Directing the public to our social media as well as their own local media outlets is important to continue to bring awareness and educate the public on MBC and the lack of research funding.”
Moore Fight Moore Strong is asking the public to visit one of dozens of participating landmarks on the evening of their local lighting, take a picture, and post it publicly to social media using the hashtag #LightUpMBC, #METAvivor. If you cannot get to a lighting, simply use Google Earth to screenshot a landmark and post your pic.
Why is this important? Often in a month filled with pink celebrations, the Metastatic Breast Cancer community feels forgotten. Metastatic Breast Cancer (often also referred to as Stage IV) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body typically the liver, lung, brain and bones. There is no cure for Stage IV MBC and the life expectancy of men and women diagnosed with the disease is, on average, 24-36 months. “Bringing awareness to MBC is critical. There are 114 people that die of MBC every day. This is often not discussed,” said Inahara. “While 30% of early stage breast cancer patients will metastasize, only 2 to 5% of all breast cancer funds raised go to Stage IV breast cancer research to find a cure, or make the disease a lifelong manageable illness. Over 42,000 lives are taken annually by this disease.”
Said Inahara, “Jessica encouraged us all to advocate because she knew the more we talked about MBC, the more people would understand it and that would result in advocacy for change. Education is key. There is often a misconception that there is a cure for breast cancer and we want to educate anyone who will listen, that there is not presently a cure. We would like the public to reconsider where they are investing their charitable donations and consider METAvivor Research and Support Inc., as they remain the only U.S. organization dedicated to awarding annual, peer reviewed, Stage IV breast cancer research grants.”
If you are responsible for a landmark that lights and want to join the #LightUpMBC initiative, contact Laura Inahara, Executive Director, at [email protected]
About METAvivor and the Origin of the Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Ribbon:
METAvivor is dedicated to the specific fight of men and women living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer It is a volunteer led, non-profit organization that solely funds Stage IV MBC research to help improve the longevity and quality of life for MBC patients.
“The pink ribbon is well-known for representing the fight against breast cancer, but many Stage IV breast cancer patients feel that pink does not encapsulate their experience. Metastatic Breast Cancer may start in the breast, but its spread to vital organs makes the disease fatal. To highlight the uniqueness of the disease and show its commonality with other Stage IV cancers, METAvivor designed a base ribbon of green and teal to represent metastasis. Green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death, and symbolizes renewal, hope, and immortality while teal symbolizes healing and spirituality. The thin pink ribbon overlay signifies the metastatic cancer originated in the breast.”
For more information on METAvivor and to donate, visit www.metavivor.org and follow METAvivor on Facebook at www.facebook.com/metavivor.
About Moore Fight Moore Strong
In 2013, Moore Fight Moore Strong (MFMS) was formed by family and friends who joined forces with a mission to support Jessica Moore, who in April 2013, at age 32 was diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). Since inception, MFMS has grown larger than we could have ever imagined. We all united together to support Jess' mission to raise awareness to Stage IV MBC. In May of 2017, Jessica passed away after a courageous four-year battle.
For more information on Moore Fight Moore Strong, visit www.MooreFightMooreStrong.com and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MooreFightMooreStrong and follow #LightUpMBC.
Participating cities, landmark locations and dates of the lightings (as of 10/02):
Note: MFMS receives new confirmations daily. For the most up-to-date list, visit Moore Fight Moore Strong’s website event page or Facebook page listed above.
Anchorage, AK: JD Tower - Sunday, October 13th (*green/teal only)
Auckland, New Zealand: Sky Tower - Tuesday, October 1st – Sunday, October 6th
Atlanta, GA: King & Queen Buildings - Sunday, October 13th
Baltimore, MD: City Hall - Friday, October 11th – Monday, October 14th
Boston, MA: Zakim Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Buffalo, NY: Peace Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Calgary, Alberta: Calgary Tower - Sunday, October 13th
Camden, NJ: Benjamin Franklin Bridge - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Charlotte, NC: Wells Fargo Duke Energy Center - Tuesday, October 8th
Chicago, IL: The Wrigley Building, 400-410 North Michigan Avenue - Friday, October 11th
Cleveland, OH: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Sunday, October 13th
Cleveland, OH: Terminal Tower – Monday, October 14th
Dallas, TX: Omni Hotel - Sunday, October 13th
Dover, DE: The Legislative Building - Friday, October 11th – Sunday, October 13th
Duluth, MN: Enger Tower - Saturday, October 12th
Fort Erie, Ontario: Peace Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Fort Wayne, IN: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Gilbert, AZ: Gilbert Water Tower - Saturday, October 12th – Monday, October 14th
Grand Rapids, MI: McKay Tower - Friday, October 11th – Monday, October 13th
Green Bay, WI: Green Bay Bridge - Wednesday, October 16th
Halifax, Nova Scotia: City Hall - Sunday, October 13th
Harrisburg, PA: Capital Building - Sunday, October 13th
Harrisburg, PA: Market Street Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Harrisburg, PA: Walnut Street Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Honolulu, HI: Aloha Tower - Sunday, October 13th
Houston, TX: Montrose Bridges and City Hall - Sunday, October 13th
Jacksonville, FL: Mayo Clinic Campus - Sunday, October 13th
Kansas City, MO: KC Power & Light - Sunday, October 13th
Kilkenny, Ireland: Kilkenny Castle - Saturday, October 12th - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Kittery, ME: Memorial Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Kittery, ME: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Cranes - Sunday, October 13th
Lexington, KY: Helix Garage - Sunday, October 13th
Little Rock, AR: Union Plaza Building - Sunday, October 13th (*green/teal only)
Los Angeles, CA: LAX Airport Pylons - Sunday, October 13th
Manhattan, KS: Flint Hills Discovery Center - Sunday, October 13th
Miami, FL: The Miami Towers - Sunday, October 13th
Minneapolis, MN: I-35W Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Minneapolis, MN: Lowry Avenue Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Mobile, AL: RSA Building - Sunday, October 13th
Montgomery, AL: RSA Building - Sunday, October 13th
Nashville, TN: Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
National Harbor, MD: The Capital Wheel - Thursday, October 10th
New Orleans, LA: Mercedes-Benz Superdome - Sunday, October 13th
Niagara Falls, NY: Niagara Falls - Saturday, October 12th
Oklahoma City, OK: Skydance Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Omaha, NE: WoodmenLife Tower - Sunday, October 13th
Philadelphia, PA: Benjamin Franklin Bridge - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Philadelphia, PA: CIRA Centre - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Philadelphia, PA: FMC Tower - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Phoenix, AZ: Mayo Clinic Campus - Sunday, October 13th
Pittsburgh, PA: BNY Mellon - Sunday, October 13th
Pittsburgh, PA: The Gulf Tower - Sunday, October 13th
Pittsburgh, PA: The Highmark - Sunday, October 13th
Pittsburgh, PA: Homestead Grays Bridge - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Pittsburgh, PA: The Koppers Building - Sunday, October 13th
Pittsburgh, PA: One Oxford Center Building - Sunday, October 13th
Pittsburgh, PA: The Rivers Casino Ballroom Chandelier - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Portland, ME: City Hall - Sunday, October 13th
Portland, OR: Oregon Convention Center - Sunday, October 13th
Portsmouth, NH: Memorial Bridge - Sunday, October 13th
Poughkeepsie, NY: Mid-Hudson Bridge - Saturday, October 12th (*green/teal only)
Richmond, VA: Science Museum of Virginia - Sunday, October 13th (*green/teal only)
Rochester, MN: Mayo Clinic Campus - Sunday, October 13th
Saint Louis, MO: Planetarium - Sunday, October 13th
Salt Lake City, UT: Huntsman’s Cancer Institute - Sunday, October 13th
San Diego, CA: San Diego Convention Center - October 13th (*teal only)
Seattle, WA: SR 520 Bridge - Thursday, October 10th – Monday, October 14th
Sydney, Australia: Town Hall - Sunday, October 13th (*teal only)
Toronto, Ontario: CN Tower - Saturday, October 12th
Yonkers, NY: Yonkers Clock Tower - Sunday, October 13th
Vancouver, British Columbia: BC Place - October 26th
Vancouver, British Columbia: The Sails of Light - October 13th (*green/teal only)
