Last year, more than 100,000 people flooded the streets around the Rhode Island Statehouse for one purpose: to raise breast cancer awareness.

This Saturday night will be the 3rd annual Flames of Hope celebration at WaterFire, and it's open to anyone and everyone who is willing to make a difference.

Every year, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. If every woman took the time and care to do self-examinations and go to regular screenings, that number would be reduced immensely.

But gentleman, don't think you are off the hook because you can get breast cancer, too. Out of the 1,900 men who are diagnosed with this disease in the U.S., 450 die. If you didn't already know that fact then imagine how much more you can learn by going to this event.

A bunch of radio stations will be there doing live broadcasts along with major news channels sending out live feeds. Once night falls, the entire Statehouse will be lit up in pink and thousands of pink glow sticks will be for sale. In addition, the Gloria Gemma Foundation will be trying to establish a record for the biggest ribbon of fire in the Guinness Book of World Records.

It isn't an actual category in the book yet, but it is in the process of becoming one.

There will be a million and one other things going on including auctions for sports memorabilia, live music, boat rides, a torch parade, VIP tent parties, and a ton of food.

My family and I decided to volunteer for this event for many reasons. One of them is that members of our family have battled cancer, so we know the brutal toll it takes on someone's life. Lucky for us, they have all survived. Not everyone however is that fortunate.

By going to the Flames of Hope celebration you help raise money that stays with us locally so that our friends and families and neighbors who have breast cancer have more of a fighting chance. All the proceeds from the event stay with this organization, so we know it goes to good use.

In the time it took you to read this issue of The Page, one woman has died from breast cancer. For more information on Flames of Hope, the Gloria Gemma Foundation, or breast cancer visit www.gloriagemma.org.