Pink Ribbon of the Month, November: Team Ra-Ras

Since early October, 2010, Komen Philadelphia Affiliate supporters and the YouTube community have been viewing, sharing and viewing again the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate's 'Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer.' In its first month of being on the Internet, the video generated more than 500,000 views and raised more that $95,000 for The Affiliate, with UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania donating 10¢ to the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate for every YouTube view.


This amazing, worldwide initiative can be credited to 136 people... sharing the beat of one loving heart...Team Ra-Ras. From the idea that sparked the video project, to the final kick that capped off the video performance, to an ongoing effort to generate millions of views, this beautiful team of former NFL Alumni Philadelphia Chapter Cheerleaders made it all possible.

 

When you think about all the components that came together for the making of 'Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer', it's not exactly what you expect to see in a group defined as having a great deal in common: a hot young, international Pop star and a primly attired 85-year old grandmother... residents of our quaint Philadelphia suburban community next to a woman living among the ritz-and-glitz of Palm Beach... leaders in the global fight to end breast cancer for over a quarter century, and a brand-new life, barely 3 weeks old, destined to help empower the future.

 

Ironically, these disparities in lifestyles are exactly what make Team Ra-Ras, so powerful, for they have all transcended the lines that make them different to unite in the one thing they all have in common - the vision of a world without breast cancer. And to that end, they share one mind, one heart and one determination to make that vision a reality.

 

"Our hope was to mobilize and empower millions with a concrete way to contribute to Komen's mission to end this disease forever," said of Maggie Trush-Hammond, Membership Chair of the NFL Alumni Philadelphia Chapter Cheerleaders. "You don't have to give any money... just watch the video on YouTube and in four short minutes you can help wipe out the disease that takes a life every sixty-nine seconds."

 

In June, the Team Ra-Ra leaders - Maggie Trush-Hammond, Audrey Purcell and Sharon Grove - came to The Affiliate with their idea for the video. All summer, in homes as close as Philadelphia and as far away as Arizona, the Team Ra-Ras NFL Alumni Philadelphia Chapter Cheerleaders practiced a routine representing dance styles from each decade between 1960 and 2010. In September, they reunited in Philadelphia to film the 'grand finale.' Ranging in age from 25-64, including eight breast cancer survivors, the participants invested endless hours and dollars in travel, practice, uniforms and performance. Moreover, their work is not done, as each one of them is spending even more time and effort to help us reach our goal of 1 million views by January 1, embracing their local communities and online social networks in the viral video project.

 

"Last year, MaryLou Tammaro, a fellow cheerleader and cherished mentor, was diagnosed with breast cancer... then and there we all knew we had to do something to make a difference," said Carethia Thomas, who cheered for the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 1980s - early 1990s. " Fortunately, the disease has not touched my family or me, but after the news about MaryLou, I kept thinking in the back of my mind, 'What if I was diagnosed? Would people be there for me?' Team Ra-Ras set out to help assure every woman that she never has to fear facing a diagnosis alone."

 

"It is humbling to think that from our small office in Philadelphia, we've achieved something that will embrace people around the world in the hope of beating breast cancer," said Elaine I. Grobman, Executive Director of the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate. "This incredible journey epitomizes teamwork and conviction... made possible thanks to the ingenuity, generosity and passion of Team Ra-Ras."

 

The Komen Philadelphia Affiliate is proud to recognize Team Ra-Ras with our Pink Ribbon of the Month... honored to call each one of them our friend... and forever grateful for their conviction and dedication to 'kicking breast cancer into oblivion'!

 

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