According to U.S. government statistics, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lives. From neighbors to colleagues to friends, breast cancer can affect someone we know and results in nearly 40,000 deaths per year, second behind lung cancer.
Numerous support organizations including Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure have stepped up to support the search for a breast cancer cure. On a yearly basis, many teams made up of breast cancer survivors and their supporters gather to raise money and walk or run a 5K race to bring awareness to the effort. Of the fundraising done, 75 percent stays in the community for breast cancer detection, awareness campaigns, and patient programs with the last quarter devoted to finding treatment opportunities.
Perficient’s Irvine office is throwing their support into the ring this year, led by longtime volunteer DJ Art Zippel, who also serves as a Senior User Experience Researcher for the Perficient Digital team. Having volunteered every year since 2003, he supports an event that draws nearly 20,000 people and is less than a mile from the beach.
“Call it what you want, ‘Paying it Forward’ or ‘Giving Back’ this was an event that was dear to my heart long before my mom became a cancer survivor,” says Zippel. “My emotional battery gets a 6-month charge from this event, and the sound system I bring is completely over-the-top. I want every person who walks or runs past me to feel how grateful I am to play a small role in finding a cure to breast cancer.”
Zippel starts his playlist six weeks before the race, injecting hits from Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, and others for a blast of energy for the event. This year, he’s adding fans and three bubble machines to further energize the crowd for what plans to be an empowering day.
This event is also part of the Irvine office’s philanthropy goals, a yearlong initiative to present Perficient as a visible part of the community. Already, Zippel has enrolled several colleagues to raise money and participate in the walk.
“I’m really excited to be a part of this,” remarked Iman Nasser, co-chair of the Irvine Culture Committee and Delivery Lead at Perficient’s Microsoft practice. “Cancer is impacting the community and our loved ones with a rapid and increasing rate. We are encouraging our Southern California colleagues, family and friends to help in any way possible.”
If you’re interested in getting involved and are in Orange County this week, the festivities begin September 24 at 7:15 a.m. at the Pacific Life Insurance Company Building at Fashion Island. Alternatively, you can also donate at this link.
Read more about what it’s like to work in our Irvine office here.
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