Riverhead landmarks to light up for Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Riverhead Town landmarks will light up Tuesday night as part of a worldwide campaign to raise awareness of metastatic breast cancer and support research.

Organized by the North Fork Breast Health Coalition, the effort will bathe The Big Duck in Flanders, the airplanes at Grumman Memorial Park in Calverton, the Jamesport Meeting House and local businesses in green, teal and pink light. Participating businesses include All Star Bowling Alley, Apple Honda and the Sea Star Ballroom at the aquarium in Riverhead.

“For the very first time, our North Fork community is joining the worldwide #LightUpMBC movement, and we couldn’t be more excited!” announced the North Fork Breast Health Coalition on their social media feeds.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day brings patients, families and supporters together to shine a literal light on the need for research and resources to improve outcomes for people with Stage IV breast cancer.

The coalition has planned an evening of community and friendship, beginning at 6 p.m. at its office on Old Country Road in Riverhead.

A caravan will visit each of the Riverhead-area locations, where participants can take photos with the illuminated landmarks. At 7:30 p.m., the group plans to gather at the Village Idiot at Indian Island Golf Course to watch the global #LightUpMBC livestream.

The evening supports awareness and research through METAvivor, an organization dedicated to funding Stage IV metastatic breast cancer research.

“You don’t have to be personally affected by breast cancer to make a difference,” NFBHC officials said in the announcement. “You just have to show up. Bring a friend, join the caravan, meet us at the watch party, or visit one of the illuminated landmarks.”