Celebrities battle the Big C with Avon

MANILA, Philippines - Instead of the usual hosting and acting jobs she’s used to doing, Rhian Ramos takes on new priorities as one of the Avon Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer (KGBC) campaign advocates.

The cause is something very close to her heart, as her own mother has been affected by breast cancer. “This year, my mom got a malignant cyst,” Rhian shared at the KGBC 2011 launch, held recently at The Peninsula Manila. “It was a good thing that the cancer was detected early, and the cyst was removed, but finding out was very painful for our entire family. Knowing how this disease affects so many women and their families drove me to extend my support for breast cancer sufferers through Avon’s Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer campaign.”  

The same holds true for husband to a breast cancer survivor, Jim Paredes, who was one of the panelists at the breast cancer forum during the event. “My wife Lydia did not have cancer — we had cancer,” Jim said. “We experienced it together, and to our surprise, instead of bringing us dread and pain, it only gifted us with the opportunity for greater intimacy, closeness and prayerfulness as a family. It also taught us to be grateful for each day and moment spent with each other,” he added.

While Jim and Lydia had each other to go through the journey together, Melissa de Leon, also a forum panelist, held on to her faith. “I thought that maybe the Lord was trying to tell me something through my circumstances, that there was a purpose behind what was happening,” she revealed.

Melissa never expected that she would fall prey to breast cancer, what with the healthy lifestyle she has led over the years. Instead of dwelling on the shock and pain that the disease brought, Melissa, now cancer-free, spends a lot of time talking about her experience as a way of inspiring and encouraging patients, their families, and friends.

Aside from Rhian, Kapuso stars Rocco Nacino, Bela Padilla, Stephanie Henares, Mike Tan and Frencheska Farr have also been named as the latest Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer (KGBC) advocates who have pledged to support the cause by participating in the Avon Race to 125,000 Kisses Walk and Run event today at the SM Mall of Asia Open Grounds to benefit disease sufferers all over the Philippines.