Thank you for visiting the Black Ribbon Benefit webpage! You will quickly notice the BRB embodies 3 main qualities: it is very personal, very grassroots, and very survivor oriented. The benefit’s goals are geared directly around the IDEA OF HOPE and fighting the War on Melanoma.

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The 3rd Annual Black Ribbon Benefit will be held on Sunday, September 7th from 5pm-10pm. The event will be held at a NEW location, The Lodge Bar - in the Arena District, 165 Vine Street, Columbus OH (#221-2824). There will be live entertainment, games, silent and live auctions, drinks and food.
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“I have been unwillingly forced into the ring with a brutal enemy and am now in the fight of my life with stage 3 melanoma skin cancer. I have the hope and determination however, to take this beast down and will fight for a cure for the rest of my life. We have the very real capability of seeing a cure and winning this battle. Join me in this war on melanoma with hopes for a better day.”

“The BRB was born about a year ago, while I was lying in bed, cut up, messed up and fed up, with drainage tubes coming out of me while recovering from 2 serious surgeries and having just started a year-long chemotherapy treatment to fight Stage 3 Melanoma. I was 24 years old at the time and terrified I might not see 25. I had a lot of down time to try and absorb the fact that I was fighting cancer. While doing so however, I was blessed to find myself quickly developing a fighting spirit. Already VERY stubborn and feisty, this trait felt natural to me and thus in only 2 short months, with the help of loved ones and friends, the 1st Annual Black Ribbon Benefit was created.

We successfully raised over $4,000 and helped to co-sponsor a research grant through the Melanoma Research Foundation. Through community interest, strong committee volunteer efforts and the desire to FIGHT THE BEAST, we are able to proudly turn the BRB into a yearly event.” ~Katie
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Why black? Black is the awareness color for Melanoma, which means ‘black tumor’. It is also the color of the warrior’s mood when going into battle, for the melanoma patient is in a battle for his/her life. Melanoma patients often refer to this disease as “the beast” due to how aggresive, hard to detect and deadly it can be. It’s also the color of our rage when we consider the lack of progress and lack of research funding we see after 25 years of the so-called “War On Cancer”.
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The BRB’s Purpose:

The Purpose of The Black Ribbon Benefit is to create awareness and generate fundraising for the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) to find a cure for Melanoma Skin Cancer. Not only is there no cure, there is a dire lack of funding for research and even less awareness within the general population. People may only think pink when viewing cancer and the goal of this event is to bring another frightening color to the surface. Let’s bring it to the forefront, exposing how serious this cancer is, and educate the community on how to prevent Melanoma and most importantly, how to save lives from this vicious beast by finding a cure.

The Black Ribbon Benefit is a non-profit 501(c)3 status organization in partnership with Anderson’s Army (www.andersonsarmy.net) and the MRF. All proceeds are tax deductible as allowed by law (Tax EIN #76-0514428.) All proceeds will go towards the MRF, which is committed to medical research to finding a cure, educating patients and physicians and to be an advocate of awareness for the melanoma community. To find out more about the MRF please visit www.melanoma.org.

If you are unable to attend but still wish to donate you can do so by mail (PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO BLACK RIBBON BENEFIT, 7741 Windy Hill Ct., Lewis Center, OH 43035) or through the current Black Ribbon Benefit Online Fundraising Page. Simply click on the “Firstgiving–Sponsor Me” tab on the Home Page, or visit WWW.FIRSTGIVING.COM/blackribbonrun. We will also accept cash and credit card donations on the day of the event. Participating sponsors will be displayed accordingly. Please see the 2008 BRB Sponsorship Proposal under the DONATE/SPONSOR tab for more information. Your contributions to this cause are appreciated, as all proceeds will be used to fight the War on Melanoma Cancer. Thank you for your support with this important cause.

Contact: Katie Brennan, Program Director
kbrennan20@hotmail.com

BRB Photos!!!