New York Times bestselling author Kelly Corrigan is returning to The Woodlands to headline the Memorial Hermann In the Pink of Health Luncheon presented by Richie’s Specialty Pharmacy. The 14th Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, October 10, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott.
In the Pink of Health Committee co-chairs Melissa Preston and Carrie Hyman agree: “Kelly Corrigan was such a funny and inspirational speaker at our 2009 Luncheon. We are overwhelmed that this crowd favorite will return in October to speak about survivorship. She will update us on her challenges and her journey over the last five years.”
The mother of two daughters, Corrigan is definitely a “breast cancer thriver.” Celebrating good health and her new book, “Glitter and Glue,” she will entertain Luncheon attendees with her stories of her relationship with her mother, her family, and her cancer survival journey.
Her first book, “The Middle Place,” is a memoir about her Irish-American father’s battle with cancer and her own triumph over the disease. It reached #16 on the Hardcover Non-fiction New York Times bestseller list and #2 on the Trade Paperback Non-fiction New York Times bestseller list.
Corrigan’s second book, “Lift,” was written in the form of a letter to her children. It is an examination of risk and parenthood through the lens of three true stories. “Glitter and Glue,” her third book, was published in February 2014 and is a memoir about her reconciliation with her mother.
In addition to her work in memoirs and non-fiction, Corrigan has contributed to O - The Oprah Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, as well as other print and online publications. She has been a guest on The Today Show four times.
Corrigan created the philanthropy “Notes and Words.” It has raised more than $2 million for the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland in California, where she lives. Notes & Words’ annual benefit features bestselling authors and top recording artists.
Since its inception in 2001, In the Pink of Health has generated more than $2 million toward cutting edge technology, including two Tomosynthesis Units (3D Mammogram) for Memorial Hermann. Nearly $1 million more has helped support breast cancer patients and their families in The Woodlands and surrounding areas. New this year is an expanded focus on ovarian cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 235,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 22,000 new cases of ovarian cancer are expected this year. A woman’s risk of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer is greatly increased if she inherits a genetic mutation from her mother or father in the BRCA1 gene or the BRCA2 gene. Since these genes are linked to both breast and ovarian cancer, women who have had breast cancer have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
“After considering the connection between breast and ovarian cancer, we knew we had to broaden our focus,” added Preston and Hyman. “So, our mission has changed slightly. Moving forward, we will work to raise funds to reduce the incidence of breast and ovarian cancer, and also assist survivors in their journeys.”
For more information about the 14th Annual Luncheon sponsorship opportunities and tickets (a limited number of individual tickets will be sold), contact 713-897-PINK or inthepink@memorialhermann.org.