The American Cancer Society hosted its ninth annual “Women Leading the Way to Wellness” luncheon event on May 11, 2023 at The Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa. With more than 300 attendees, the 2023 event honored two individuals for their important and exceptional work – Seema Bakhru, MD, a radiologist and breast imaging specialist at Connecticut Breast Imaging, and the current chair of Radiology at Norwalk and Danbury Hospitals, and Roy de Souza, co-founder and CEO of BreakBio, a company focused on creating personalized medicine to treat and cure colon cancer, and his late wife, Aisha de Sequeira (in memoriam). Keynote speakers included Shieva Ghofrany, MD, FACOG at Coastal Obstetrics & Gynecology in Stamford, and co-founder of a tribe called v (@biglovefiercejuju) and Lindsay Czarniak, sports broadcaster for FOX Sports. The luncheon also included a silent auction, musical performance and welcome from Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons.
With close to $200,000 raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, a silent auction and single donations, funds will help build a movement to empower women to recognize the value of making their own health a priority. According to the American Cancer Society, the key to prevention is focusing on early detection and healthier lifestyles such as maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise, avoiding tobacco, and getting regular health screenings.
Tri-chairs for the annual event include Robin Selden, Maureen Clark-Newlove and Kitt Shapiro. Members of the planning committee include Beth Meyer, Shieva Ghofrany, Shantana Hazel, Melissa Kane, Shelley Kapitulik-Jaye, Morgan Machette, Marisa MacLean, Beth Meyer, Janice Perna-Nicholas, Ria Rueda, Mia Schipani, Jami Sherwood, Melissa Stein, Sarah Swanberg, Kaitlyn Tarpey-Borea, Kelly Thomas, Tracie Wilson, Robyn Whittingham, Kayla Williamson and Zara Williamson.
The event’s 10-year anniversary celebration will be held on May 15, 2024. Additional information will be available in the coming months at https://www.acswomenandwellness.com/ and on Instagram (@acswomenleadingtheway).
(Photos: Laura St John Photography for WLWW)
