In October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Ming Garden restaurant on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn, in collaboration with the International Chinese Women’s Health Association, hosted the fourth annual Pink Ribbon Charity Event at Bibo Garden. During the dinner, a breast cancer survivor shared her journey through the battle against cancer. She reflected on the hardships she endured but emphasized that her diagnosis led her to seek solace through meditation and mindfulness practices. After her recovery, she described her experience as a rebirth of both body and spirit, highlighting how it became a meaningful part of her life.
Gu Ping, the owner of Ming Garden, expressed her gratitude for the strong support from the New York Chinese community, stating, “This annual charity event provides essential services to those in need, and we are happy to contribute to our community.” The evening’s fundraising efforts raised a total of $10,000, which will be donated to the Cancer Services Center at Memorial Hospital to assist individuals in breast cancer prevention and treatment. She also urged women to prioritize annual screenings as a preventive measure.
Zheng Fuying, Market Director of Bibo Garden, noted that their company has been advocating for women’s breast health management for over 30 years. She believes that maintaining health is not just an individual responsibility but also a key element in ensuring family happiness. Li Jing, the General Manager of International Bibo Garden, pointed out that while many people love health, they often have limited knowledge about it. This knowledge gap can lead to tragic outcomes, which is why they promote charity events like this to enhance public awareness of health education and preventive practices.
Member Ji Lanlan emphasized that many people mistakenly believe that only older women have a higher risk of cancer, when in fact, women in their teens can also develop breast cancer. Additionally, breast cancer has the highest incidence rate among cancers affecting women globally. “It’s crucial to encourage those around us to gain a deeper understanding and preventative knowledge about breast cancer,” she urged.
During the dinner, breast cancer survivor Zheng Shulian shared her experience. Eleven years ago, she discovered a tumor in her left breast while facing pressures from work and marital issues. Upon receiving her diagnosis, she felt surprisingly calm, having learned from a colleague who had also been diagnosed with breast cancer about the treatments that lay ahead. “I didn’t panic. After all, I knew chemotherapy would cause hair loss, so I decided to cut my hair short immediately.”
However, the night before her first chemotherapy session, she had a nightmare where she felt paralyzed after being injected with medication. This unsettling dream stirred anxiety within her, prompting her to seek ways to alleviate stress. She then turned to meditation, eventually leading her to find transformative power in Buddhism. After enduring eight rounds of chemotherapy and undergoing surgeries to remove and reconstruct both breasts, she expressed her hope that her story can inspire others facing similar challenges.