During a check presentation at The Starboard, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition received a donation of $115,000 from the 8th Annual Dewey Goes Pink fundraiser held Oct. 6.

The coalition thanks Steve ‘Monty’ Montgomery and Adam Howard as well as the local community who make this event such a great success. The money raised will fund many programs at this nonprofit agency that depends on local support.

Some of the Sussex County programs that benefit from this campaign include financial assistance, community outreach and education, prosthetics, and support for those newly diagnosed or actively fighting breast cancer. Dewey Goes Pink is a 5K race event created by friends Montgomery and Howard in memory and in honor of their moms.

Montgomery lost his mother, Barbara “Gugie” Montgomery, years ago after a 25-year fight with breast cancer. Howard’s mom is a breast cancer survivor.

Montgomery’s mother had worked hard to help raise funds through Rehoboth Beach Country Club for the Susan G. Komen Foundation but advised her son to keep his efforts local just a few months before her passing. She was always impressed with the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and how it kept funds within the local community, helping people right here in Delaware. She told Monty, “You have local businesses that depend on the folks that live here; your efforts should go toward helping each of them in this community by supporting the DBCC.”

Following the loss of his mother, Montgomery connected with Howard, whose own mother continues her battle with breast cancer. The two decided to channel their grief and frustration into Dewey Goes Pink.

Since then, the event has raised more than $400,000 for the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. Headquartered in Wilmington with offices in Kent and Sussex counties, the coalition’s programs reach diverse communities to deliver messages that address unique concerns about breast cancer and early detection.

Recognizing the barriers of language, culture and economics, DBCC trains community advocates through its Peer Mentor Program, and works to help educate and encourage women and men to take responsibility for their health through breast health presentations and community health fairs. The coalition also helps those who are underserved and underinsured to receive free or reduced-cost care. The vision of the agency is to create a community where every person diagnosed with breast cancer becomes a survivor, and fear and doubt are replaced with knowledge and hope.