The breast cancer fundraiser hosted by David and Beverly Spangler, of the Village of DeSoto, clearly stated that 100 villagers with pink ribbons attached to shirts and pink bows around the neck was not just an average driveway party.
Around three years ago, the Spangler family had a fight with breast cancer when David’s sister was diagnosed. After looking at the suffering, Beverly Spangler started “Pretty In Pink” via the Hot Chicks With Tattoos that further expanded into a 600 plus member women’s club. She stated, “As soon as my sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer, all her focus shifted to do fundraising.”
After a year, the breast cancer frightened the family again. Their daughter was diagnosed this time after conceiving twins. In particular, she tested positive for the BRCA gene, and the family was so shocked, according to Beverly.
The BRCA is an abbreviation for breast cancer gene. As per the doctors, the BRCA gene does not cause breast cancer, yet its presence can highly increase the risk of breast cancer in the body. After knowing about Erica, David and Beverly also got tested the following day. The results turned out to be a sudden shock when David tested positive.
Beverly mentioned, “David wasn’t aware that men could also get breast cancer.” They prayed and prayed to not go through all of it again. But after the time span of two weeks, their second daughter Michelle also tested positive for the BRCA gene.
“Our whole family was hit,” Beverly mentioned softly during an interview with The Villages Daily Sun. Both of them took a courageous step and scheduled a complete hysterectomy and bilateral mastectomy. And just by having those surgeries both the girls have lowered the chances of having breast cancer from 89% to 25%.
Being stuck in between this crisis, having faith helped to keep the family strong and focused. Plus, it also made things better for Beverly by getting more involved with the fundraising.
The spring driveway party has been one of the several events that have been hosted by the Spanglers including volunteer musical performances by the neighbors and a 50/50 raffle. It is also known as the ongoing effort to make things better for families touched by breast cancer.
The residents of the Village of DeSoto, Maryann Rubini and Sandy Evans, were also a part of the fundraiser after being personally touched by breast cancer, which is currently affecting one in eight women.
Over the past 20 years, Rubini mentioned that she has helped several friends battling with this disease. Evans volunteered to be a part of this fundraiser to honor her late mother-in-law. Evans mentioned, “She survived for a total of five years, yet it came back too metastasized due to which she couldn’t take it and died from it.”
It is quite true that the survivors of breast cancer may not be able to look at the pink color in the same way that other people do, and that is true of Barbara Flynn.
The resident of the Village of Caroline was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006. She stated that she barely had the time to breath after getting the complete treatment before it struck again.
Sharing the somewhat similar experience, Flynn said, “A year later, my mother was diagnosed with it.” After she reached the other side of the health challenge, Flynn proudly and openly shared her breast cancer journey. She is looking forward to helping other women as well.
In the month of October, Beverly and several other volunteers from the Hot Chicks came together and managed a fundraiser outside the Fenney Grill, which raised approximately $14,000. After that, people are getting aware of the cause and raising funds at a bingo party too. All the fundraiser events and parties are already pre-booked on the calendar. By raising $730 from a three hour driveway party, Beverly Spangler stated, “It’s all about the cause.”
– Attributed Source, The Villages Daily Sun