Summerfield’s Jeff Young hasn’t thought much about breast cancer or the American Cancer Society other than watching MLB players wear pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Everything changed in August 2021 when Young’s wife Betsy was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

“When it became a reality, we talked to our kids about it, got our families together and made plans,” Young said.

Young struts down the runway with 32 men from Sarasota and Manatee counties at the Real Menswear Pink Fashion Show on September 24th at the mall at University Town Center.

“It’s going to be hilarious,” Betsy Young said of the idea of ​​meeting her husband on the runway.

The day after last year’s fashion show, Jeff Young ran into Sammy Lynch of The River Club and his wife Bethany, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society, to hear about the fashion show.

Bethany Lynch persuaded Jeff Young to join.

“Everyone says it’s a lot of fun,” Young said. “It’s not a serious event that you might think is cancer related, but it’s an opportunity for everyone to have fun. It’s great to be able to turn a negative into a positive.”

Young said he usually likes to wear t-shirts and cargo pants, but he enjoys wearing flashy clothes at fashion shows.

It has not yet been decided what pose she will pose at the end of the runway.

“I like to see what other people do first,” he said. I would. I just flap it and match the vibe.

Last year, when Lakewood Ranch’s Scott Kessler walked down the runway, he threw his hands up in the air and yelled, “Hey, here’s my buddy,” before reaching the end of the runway, where I handed my wife Sheri a rose and kissed her.

“It was kind of corny, but the moment spurred me on,” he said. was to raise funds for

Kessler thought the fashion show would be embarrassing, but ended up enjoying it.

“I loved my $800 jacket, but I had to return it,” Kessler said with a laugh. “I was stressing for about two minutes trying not to fall off the stage.”

This year, Kessler will wear clothes from Adrenaline Harley-Davidson, where he works.

“It’s a lot more fashionable than you think,” he said. “It’s not going to be chaps or leather jackets. Harley-Davidson got really modern with their clothes. They’re very fashion forward now.”

Kessler began joining Real Men Wear Pink to support the American Cancer Society and Cheri, who was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago.

Kessler said the diagnosis came as a shock.

“Your mind always wanders for the worst, but thankfully her prognosis was good,” Kessler said of his wife, who has been in remission for a year.

For Ted Baran of Lakewood Ranch, making strides against breast cancer has been a family tradition since moving to the area in 2007. Balan’s family wanted to support the American Cancer Society because his mother Kathleen Foley his Balan was battling breast cancer. Fourteen years before she died in 2007, her other family members and friends were also diagnosed with breast cancer.

“We started taking walks so that my children could have some kind of memory of doing something for my mother,” Baran said. called it the Grammys Walk and did it for years and raised a lot of money.”

When Lynch suggested Baran participate in Real Men Wear Pink in 2021, he enthusiastically collaborated.

Baran said he was nervous at first, but after spending time with the other ambassadors, he had a “positive energy to try and do everything he could to promote treatment and care.”

Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors were given a goal last year to raise at least $2,000. Kessler, Baran and Parrish’s Luke McFarland exceeded their goals, raising over $12,000 each.

Kessler said he never had a Facebook page until he created one to reach more people and raise money for the cause.

McFarland, who works in East County, became an ambassador for Real Men Wear Pink in 2021 to support then-colleague and cancer survivor Emily Rose. He said getting to know someone affected by breast cancer was an eye-opening experience for Rose, as she was 25 when she was diagnosed.

“It’s great to see a supportive community,” he said. “There is a lot of support that you can’t understand unless you actually participate”

McFarland hosted a golf tournament to attract more golfers and volunteers and raise money than he expected.

Ambassadors are now planning more fundraising events, including McFarland’s golf tournament, Kessler’s whiskey tasting and bike event.

“I think we went overboard with three events this year, but if we can pull them off, it should bring in a lot of money for charity,” Kessler said. “It’s friendship with the guys. I go to some of their events. They come to some of my events.”

All Ambassadors have a goal of $125,000 this year.

Kessler and Jeff Young said not only did they have to compete with other Real Men Wear Pink ambassadors, but they also had to compete with their wives.

“We were kind of doing a little family challenge, and it was fun,” Kessler said.

Jeff Young knows what it’s like to know someone who has or has had breast cancer by being with other Real Mean Wear Pink ambassadors. He said he gave him his own support group.

“In many cases, of course, spouses who don’t have cancer are usually put aside, so it’s nice to have a support network for them, too,” says Jeff Young. “Everybody says we are here for you. We understand what you are going through. Unless they’ve experienced it, they don’t understand.”