Monday evening I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the screening of FIVE, a Lifetime Network film, in downtown Washington DC. The Prevent Cancer Foundation, along with six other cancer organizations, is a Coalition Partner.
Before the screening, Dr. Jill Biden and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made opening remarks and spoke of the importance of affordable, accessible and preventable breast cancer care for all women.
FIVE is directed by some of Hollywood’s most sought after actresses, including Demi Moore, Jennifer Aniston, and Alicia Keys. Jennifer Aniston, along with film’s Executive Producer, Kristin Hahn, attended the DC screening and gave insightful and stirring remarks on why they chose to become involved – both wanted to tell these stories in a way that embraces how we all get through life’s challenges: with the love and support of family and friends, with the inner strength we didn’t even know we had and with the ability to find humor in the face of fear.
FIVE, an anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on five people’s lives, kept me captivated, in tears and hoping for much more when it ended. I was touched in many ways by the five interconnected vignettes which thread a story line of a handful of unique women in their life-altering experience with breast cancer. I do not cry often during a movie, and can count on one hand those few times, but last night the tears streamed silently down my face while watching a scene where a young child of 4 or maybe 5 tried to understand what was wrong with her dying mother.
Eileen Sexton, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications & Carolyn Schmidt, Managing Director of Development at the DC screening of the Lifetime movie, FIVE
Although all of the stories in this film were fictional, I felt at many times they were stories told of my own friends, neighbors and colleagues who have bravely fought this disease. Since breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, most, if not all of us, can personally relate to the film. It’s not only worth watching, and encouraging everyone in your life to watch and learn that early detection and screening cannot only save your life but can protect family and friends from the pain and suffering of losing a sister, a daughter, a mother, a dear friend, forever.
As my Prevent Cancer Foundation colleague Karen Peterson explains, “The five vignettes give a hard and realistic yet tender-hearted look at families facing cancer. ”
The premiere of FIVE is scheduled for October 10th at 9 p.m. (EST). I am pleased that the Prevent Cancer Foundation will be debut a Public Service Announcement during the premiere. Please check your local listings and plan to tune in.
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