The North Fork Breast Health Coalition got a $6,000 boost from a local auto dealer last month.
Apple Honda in Riverhead ran its fourth annual breast cancer awareness campaign during the month of October, donating $50 to the organization for every new car sold and $1 for every service job during the month.
The Route 58 dealership presented representatives of the coalition with a $6,250 check yesterday.
“Our goal was $5,000,” Apple Honda controller Dawn Vogel said. “Thanks to the efforts of our sales force and service department and the generosity of our customers, we were able to exceed our goal.”
“Everybody on our staff gets really into it,” Vogel said. “The showroom is decked out in pink. Everybody gets pink shirts. We have fun with it.”
This year’s October campaign brought to $27,250 the total amount raised by Apple Honda for the North Fork Breast Health Coalition.
The North Fork Breast Health Coalition was founded in 1998 by Ann Cotten-DeGrasse and her late husband Antonio, after the couple learned that there were no support services for breast cancer patients on the North Fork.
The all-volunteer organization’s mission is to encourage and assist in the prevention, early intervention, and cure of breast cancer through advocacy, awareness, networking, and research.
It offers gentle yoga classes, reflexology, massage therapy and support groups as well as a grant program to assist North Fork breast cancer patients with personal needs. The “Lend a Helping Hand” grant program annually provides 20 to 30 grants of up to $1,000 apiece to provide patients assistance with travel costs, housecleaning, meal preparation, etc.
The organization also works to let people know about breast cancer screening services available locally, including free mammograms from Cancer Services in Riverhead (631-548-6320).
Cotten-DeGrasse, who served the organization as its president for many years after its founding, along with Apple Honda owner Irwin Garsten and his wife Flora, will be honored at the group’s annual fundraiser Pink Pearl Gala on April 7.
