Breast cancer prevention advocates, medical providers, nutrition experts, and community members will gather for the Let’s Beat Breast Cancer rally from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the former Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Boardman Lake Campus, 2200 Dendrinos Drive, in Traverse City.
“There is tremendous power in the choices we make every day, including what we eat, how much we exercise, how much alcohol we consume, and maintaining a healthy weight,” said Darylin Berryman, rally organizer and Native Food for Life educator, of Peshawbestown.
Berryman is a member of the federally recognized Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians tribe.
“Screening, treatment, and support are essential. Our goal is to help people prevent the disease from occurring in the first place, lowering the risk of developing breast cancer,” Berryman said.
As a Native Food for Life instructor, Berryman teaches others how to prevent, treat, and even reverse type 2 diabetes and other health problems with ancestral plant-based food. Native Americans have traditionally relied on the Three Sisters, corn, beans, and squash, which are high in protein, calcium, and other nutrients.
The event will feature drumlines from Traverse City Central and Traverse City West, whose students will help the assembled group “beat” the drums for breast cancer prevention.
Attendees can also register at the rally for a free Food for Life Cancer Prevention and Survival class taking place Oct. 17. The class will share practical information about using plant-based nutrition to help reduce cancer risk and support overall health.
Led by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a health advocacy nonprofit of 17,000 doctors, free Let’s Beat Breast Cancer events are held in dozens of locations around the world throughout September and October. The Physicians Committee encourages people to reduce breast cancer risk by following a research-backed four-pronged approach: Eat a whole-food, plant-based diet; Exercise regularly; Limit alcohol; Maintain a healthy weight.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 9,900 women in Michigan will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026, and 1,320 women are expected to die from the disease. Nationwide, approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during her lifetime.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization of 17,000 physicians who promote preventive medicine, conduct clinical research, and encourage higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.
For more information about the Let’s Beat Breast Cancer campaign and breast cancer prevention, visit LetsBeatBreastCancer.org.
