Walk for Beauty Kicks Off Fundraising Push This Week

Get your pink gloves on.

The 19th annual Walk for Beauty officially kicks off fundraising efforts this week to support breast cancer research and patient support at Stony Brook University's Cancer Center.

On Thursday at the Three Village Inn, a "Pink Glove Dance" video will be taped to enter a national awareness competition produced by MedLine. The original Pink Glove Dance, created in 2009, has had more than 13 million views on YouTube.

But you don't have to be a Pink Glove Dance participant to attend this kick-off event, which starts at 6 p.m. and will feature refreshments and raffles. The cost is $20, which is considered the registration fee for the annual Walk for Beauty, which is set for Sunday, Oct. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the Stony Brook Village Center. To RSVP to Thursday's event, call 631-444-4000.

Those wishing to participate in the Walk for Beauty can register for the discounted rate of $20 until Oct. 1; after that registration will cost $25.

The Walk for Beauty each year honors volunteers who have contributed their time and efforts to support the cause. This year, the honorees are Patrick Parent, co-owner of Legends Hair Designs whose "Cut for a Cure" fundraisers have benefited the Cancer Center for four years, and Barbara Meringolo, a breast cancer survivor.

Conceived in 1994, the Walk for Beauty – which is presented together by the Ward Melville Heritage Organization and the Cancer Center – has raised more than $1 million for breast and prostate cancer research.