Marina Mayer, executive editor, helps promote Breast Cancer Awareness month by showcasing what dairy processors are doing to support the cause. This month, Velvet Ice Cream raises money for the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research through Cones for a Cure.





To me, Breast Cancer Awareness month (October) has always been a time of reflection and remembrance for those who lost their battle to breast cancer. Whether it be a grandmother, aunt, mother, friend or sister, it’s likely that everyone knows someone affected by this disease in some way, shape or form.

This year however, Breast Cancer Awareness month means something different to me. This year, it symbolizes starting anew, wiping the slate clean, becoming cancer free.

That’s because I’m watching a very close family member of mine fight this nasty disease, and starting this month, she’s off to live a cancer-free life.

In honor of men and women everywhere impacted by breast cancer, I will spend the month of October showcasing what dairy processors are doing so that consumers can help support the cause (and cure) of breast cancer.
 

This month, Velvet Ice Cream is celebrating breast cancer awareness with Cones for a Cure.

The Utica, Ohio, processor will donate a portion of the proceeds from every ice cream cone sold at Ye Olde Mill to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research.

“One out of every eight women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime, and unfortunately my mother, Tatla, [the company’s treasurer] and sister, Joanne, [vice president of Velvet’s foodservice division] are part of this statistic,” says Luconda Dager, president of Velvet Ice Cream. “We selected the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute because of the tremendous efforts and progress our local university is showcasing in breast cancer research. Stefanie Spielman was a profound woman, and we are honored to continue to support this fund in her memory.”

Velvet also contributes to several organizations through its Ice Cream for a Cause program. Sales from each carton of Velvet's Vanilla Lovers Trio go toward the Spielman Fund year-round.