By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Marlborough – In observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, Kevin Boyle of Marlborough has waged war and his combat gear is pink. The owner of KB Lawns is among 26 community and business leaders throughout central Massachusetts participating in the Real Men Wear Pink fundraiser for the American Cancer Society (ACS).
The pink-clad men are raising awareness and funds for this year’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Worcester, a walk to be held Sunday, Oct. 16, at Institute Park. Boyle considers wearing pink a relatively easy way to help the fight to end breast cancer.
“I know several people who have gone through dealing with breast cancer and I see their struggle – emotionally, financially and familywise,” he said. “It’s really the least that I can do to help ease any of their pressure.”
He became aware of the fundraiser from his wife, Pauline, who works and volunteers for the ACS.
“I’m not a public-speaking person, so I couldn’t get up and ask people for money,” he explained. “She told me that ACS does a campaign where men pledge to wear something pink every day in October and try to get donations from people. I can do that – wearing pink isn’t a big deal.”
Each participant has a goal to collect at least $1,500. An online leaderboard tracks the top fundraisers.
According to the fundraiser webpage, “The ACS is determined to save lives from breast cancer by promoting early detection and prevention, funding groundbreaking research, and giving patients support wherever and whenever they need it. Because of the passion of supporters like you, Real Men Wear Pink of Worcester candidates are helping create a world free from the pain and suffering of breast cancer.”
Boyle and the other candidates were announced at a reveal party in August at the Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts. There, they learned that ACS also funds temporary lodging for patients and their caregivers who travel a distance to Worcester and Boston hospitals for treatment.
“It makes you feel good to help them have a family member by their side for comfort,” Boyle said.
A speaker at the reveal party discussed her experience as a breast cancer survivor.
“She was able to have family members with her while going through chemo treatments,” Boyle noted. “Now, she’s a survivor and drives one of the ACS vans. She’s giving back by picking up people and driving them to their chemo treatments.”
Also at the party, the men were given a head start with their pink wardrobe. They received sweatshirts and T-shirts with the ACS logo, and pink socks and pom-poms. Boyle also ordered pink attire emblazoned with his lawn service’s name for him and his workers to wear throughout October. Additionally, he has unique plans for the pink pom-poms.
“I’ll probably hang the pom-poms from the mirror on my truck,” he shared. “Sweatshirts needed to be purchased anyway; now they just happen to be pink. We’ll keep wearing them after the 31 days in October.”
In addition to his company’s workers, Boyle is surrounded with family support. His daughter Shannon is a junior at Assumption College, where for the third year she volunteered for a weekend of activities to benefit the ACS. Meanwhile, Pauline will once again volunteer at the Making Strides walk in Worcester with event coordination and registration.
Boyle added, “I’m looking forward to wearing pink, striking up conversations with people and trying to get them to go to my webpage to make a donation.”
To make a tax-deductible donation by credit card or PayPal, visit www.makingstrideswalk.org/realmenworcesterma; then click “Kevin Boyle.” Also, follow the fundraiser on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RealMenWearPinkWorcesterMA.
