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LONDON, March 22 — Britain’s Department of Health warned that women who drink above the recommended limit are 50 percent more likely to develop breast cancer.

The government has launched a 10-million-pound (about 20 million U.S. dollars) advertising campaign targeting middle-aged women who might underestimate the harm of their drinking habit, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Saturday.

A health department report to be published says women who drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week are at increased risk of breast cancer.

Dawn Primarolo, minister of public health, said: “Women who regularly drink too much are 50 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. And many drink too much simply because they have no idea how many alcohol units they are consuming.”

Charity organization Cancer Research also says alcohol causes about 2,000 breast cancer cases in Britain a year.

Other health risks for women who binge on drink include liver disease, unplanned pregnancies and ruptured bladders.

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BALTIMORE – When it came time for Brooke Mowry and Cristina Orndorff to pick a team name to walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, there was no contest.”The Jugg-ernaughts. We felt it exemplifies the courage and determination that men and women show in order to beat the disease,” Mowry said. “At first, we got some skeptical looks, but it’s all about positivity. What better way to encapsulate what survivors go through than that name?”

Mowry, 24 and Orndorff, 25, first became interested in charity work while attending Virginia Tech. “We were sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha, whose philanthropy is the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation,” Mowry said. “It was only natural that we wanted to participate in Avon’s cause.”

But in order to walk the 39.2 miles of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, participants are required to raise at least $1,800. Mowry, who participates in several other fundraising walks, wanted to join the race but worried about how to raise the money.

“I had done the Alzheimer’s walk not too long ago, so I had already pulled my resources with friends and family,” Mowry said. “I knew I would have to hold some kind of benefit.”

That’s when Jessica Newman stepped in. Friends with Mowry since high school, she decided to help the girls raise the money.

Things came together perfectly. All three girls liked the idea of a concert to raise money. “I’ve always thought about how cool it would be if I could make something like a benefit concert happen, but I never had a good cause,” Newman said. “When Brooke came to me, freaking out about how to raise the money, that’s when I got my cause.”

Regulars at the 8×10 in Federal Hill, the girls decided that would be the place to hold the concert. They contacted local bands Can’t Hang, The Jon Bailey Band and Shook, which all agreed to play the concert for free. They named it “Boobs, Bands and Beers,” and using grassroots marketing techniques — posting on MySpace, handing out flyers, writing e-mail blasts — the girls are hoping for the best on March 31.

Mowry and Orndorff are adamant about supporting breast cancer research, even though neither has been personally affected by cancer. “We’re lucky. But we’ve seen family members of friends affected by it,” Mowry said. “We’ve walked before in the Susan G. Komen race, and just seeing the community of survivors and supporters is amazing. We just want to be tied to the cause.”

IF YOU GO

Boobs, Bands and Beers: Concert for a Cure

WHERE: The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St., Baltimore

WHEN: 6 p.m. Monday, March 31

TICKETS: $12*

INFO: 410-625-2000

*All proceeds benefit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

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MORE than 3,000 people held lighted candles in silent vigil outside Sligo General Hospital last night in protest at the proposed removal of breast cancer services.

The campaign to retain the service in the north west was delivered a major blow recently when Professor Tom Keane declared that the debate on the locations of the centres of excellence was over.

He indicated that plans were imminent to transfer breast cancer services at the hospital to University Hospital Galway, one of eight proposed centers of excellence under the Government’s Cancer Care Strategy.

But anger is mounting that the region, comprising counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, has been left without a center of excellence in the strategy, forcing patients to travel hundreds of kilometers for cancer treatment.

Over 1,600 people have signed an online petition to save breast cancer services at the hospital amid growing concern about the capacity of the Galway hospital to deal with the additional patients.

If, as expected, the mammography service at the hospital closes down within months, an estimated 4,000 additional patients will have to travel to the Galway hospital for diagnosis because of the absence of Breast Check in the north west.

Breast cancer patient Catriona McGoldrick (43), from Sligo, who is about to commence radiotherapy treatment in Galway, said that her appointment letter had included a warning to patients to come in plenty of time because of parking problems at the hospital.

“People are going into an overloaded system as it is. Even in the letter they are warning of the parking situation. It’s off-putting.”

The mother of a four-and-a-half-year-old Eva said she was now facing a round trip of approximately 260 kilometers by bus from Sligo to Galway five days a week for six weeks while she is undergoing treatment which lasts 20 minutes.

Former breast cancer patient at the hospital Anne McGowan also attended last night’s rally.

“None of us thinks we are ever going to get cancer but we don’t know who will be next. We are being treated like second-class citizens.”

Vigil organizer and local Fine Gael councilor Imelda Henry said the seriousness of the situation for the north west was not being realized.

“Our situation is unique. We have a huge catchment area and it is unrealistic to ask people to travel when we have a fantastic unit in Sligo. A huge area of the country has been left out and we’re not going to stand for it,” she said.

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Two time world champion Robert “THE GHOST” Guerrero teams up with undefeated UFC champion Frank Shamrock, Shonie “Mr. International” Carter from The Ultimate Fighter season 4 on Spike TV, Mike Cook from Iron Ring on BET, and UFC Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith to Fund Womens Battle with Breast Cancer Charity event.

Womens Battle with Breast Cancer Charity event [Via the Sweetscience]

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MORADA — For just one second, Big Joe Goodwin’s eyes tightened, but he got that lump in his throat down in one good swallow. His face shone with pride when he saw his granddaughter, Bear Creek softball player Cecily Sammons, walking towards him.

Putting a tender arm around Sammons, Goodwin whispered, “You did good, Cecily, your mom would have loved your senior project.”

Sammons’ senior project — organizing the inaugural Rivals Unite to Fight Breast Cancer softball tournament along with Bruins coach Kirk Klucznik — more than likely earned her an A-plus for her efforts in paying tribute to her mother, JoeElla Goodwin, who passed away from breast cancer at age 38 in May of 2004.

Looking up at her late mother’s father, who now spends his golden years raising Cecily and her sister, Jillian Goodwin, Sammons nodded.

“I know my mom is proud of me,” Sammons said poignantly. “This is what she would have wanted me to do.”

According to Klucznik, the total proceeds from the two-day charity fundraiser to benefit the St. Joseph’s Mobile Mammography Unit won’t be known for a few days. But Sammons speculated that about $4,000 would be raised to help fight the deadly disease which claimed her mother four years ago.

Sammons said the charity fundraiser was already an unparalleled success in raising awareness of breast cancer, judging from the packed stands at Arnaiz Stadium in Morada. The unprecedented and overwhelming support of the fans and sponsors ensures there will be another RUFBC tournament next year.

“I got my message out to the people who are here. I am actually shocked at the turnout and especially the emotional support of all of the players and coaches,” said Sammons. “When my mom passed away, that was the only time I had ever seen my grandfather cry. I hope he never has to ever again because of breast cancer.”

Through Thursday’s early games, San Joaquin Athletic Association teams held a 10-5 lead over their Tri-City Athletic League counterparts in a tourney pitting the conferences against each other.

The first league to reach 12.5 points will win the tournament.

Lodi played a large role in the SJAA’s success, defeating McNair 10-0 and West 2-0 on Thursday to in finish 4-0 in the tournament.

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