As part of a national campaign to raise $500,000, Massage Envy's five Connecticut franchises will participate in the fifth annual Massage for the Cure.
On Sept. 15, the franchises in Fairfield, Milford, South Windsor, Glastonbury and Brookfield, will offer $35, one-hour therapeutic massage sessions, with $10 from each massage donated to the Connecticut affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a nonprofit organization raising funds to fight breast cancer. The remaining $25 covers the cost of hosting the event, including paying staff and other costs.
For the nearly 600 franchises to hit their goal, they will have to massage 50,000 people.
"This is the first year that all clinics are participating," said Eugenia Tzoannopoulous, co-owner and regional developer for Massage Envy in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New York's Westchester County. She owns the Fairfield Massage Envy, but the others are owned by other franchisees.
Since the first Massage Envy started Massage for the Cure five years ago, the Arizona-based company has raised $800,000.
Tzoannopoulous said there is a simple reason for hosting the fundraiser.
"Everyone of us has been touched by cancer," she said.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., but those interested in a massage must make an appointment.
Tzoannopoulous said she has a waiting list for her Fairfield business and plans on providing massages Sept. 16 as a result.
St. Vincent's Medical
Center in Bridgeport will bring its mammography bus to the Fairfield Massage Envy and, with the help of Swim Across the Sound, provide free mammographies to uninsured women. Appointments for the bus, which must be made in advance, will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A doctor's referral is required. Those with insurance also can be examined, but they must present a copy of their insurance card and also make an appointment.
"The Susan G. Komen Massage for the Cure is a wonderful initiative that positively affects so many and we are truly grateful for Massage Envy's continued support," Anne Morris, executive director of the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, said in a statement.
"Approximately 3,000 Connecticut women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, and one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime," she said.
Tzoannopoulous said franchises will be collecting donations beyond the massages. One hundred percent of those go to the charity, she said.
And the Fairfield franchise also bringing in people who know about goals and about the need for massage therapy.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers will participate in Massage for the Cure at the Fairfield franchise where representatives of the American Hockey League team will donate a family four-pack of tickets and a signed jersey to be raffled off in a drawing. The Sound Tiger's mascot Storm also will be on hand during the morning.
Food will be served and Tzoannopoulous encouraged people to drop in, make a donation and get in on the raffles being held. In addition to the Sound Tiger prizes, gift cards for Billy's Bakery, Edible Arrangement, Cafe Lola and a six-month membership to Massage Envy will be given away.
To find a participating Massage Envy, visit www.massageenvy.com. To make an appointment or get more information about the St. Vincent's Medical Center mammography bus, call (203) 576-5500.
Massage Envy franchises tackle breast cancer To see more of the Connecticut Post, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.connpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, Connecticut Post, Bridgeport