Join us for the Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Rally this year at Twin Cities Veg Fest. We invite everyone to come support this kickoff to October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Rally schedule and park locations
11:30am—Bands march through festival grounds to the Veteran’s Memorial
11:45am—Rally at the Veteran’s Memorial with signs, then march to the Focus Health and Music Stage
12pm—Speeches by a survivor and breast cancer prevention experts at the Focus Health and Music Stage
12:45pm—Cooking demo on preventative foods and sample distribution at the Focus Health and Music Stage
Volunteers Needed
Sign up to volunteer at the rally here.
Rally Details
At the rally, you’ll hear local experts and breast cancer survivors share inspiring stories. But that’s not all! Youth percussionists and performers will “beat the drum” for breast cancer prevention. Get ready to enjoy some amazing music while raising your voice for this important cause.
During the rally, you’ll hear about steps that can reduce the risk of breast cancer and recurrence from Mayo Breast Oncologist, Lisa Ellsworth. Of the four lifestyle steps, one of them is healthy eating. You’ll get to sample food and drinks that can reduce the risk. In addition, we are honored to have Emily Rawate share her inspiring story of surviving breast cancer!
The Let’s Beat Breast Cancer campaign aims to raise awareness about these lifestyle steps. They include eating plant-based foods, exercising regularly, limiting alcohol , and aiming to maintain a healthy weight.
The reason behind the rally
Half a century ago, the United States declared a “war on cancer,” yet current statistics predict that during our lifetime, one in eight women will develop breast cancer. Research has shown that more than one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States are due to poor diet, yet most are unaware of the connection. Faced with these startling statistics, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine developed the Food for Life: Let’s Beat Breast Cancer curriculum based on their groundbreaking Cancer Project curriculum. Certain diet patterns seem to have a major effect in helping people diagnosed with cancer live longer, healthier lives. Our speakers are trained in this curriculum.
More information on the speakers:
Lisa Ellsworth, Instructor of Oncology
Lisa Ellsworth, an Instructor of Oncology, has been caring for patients in an Oncology setting since graduating from Physican’s Assistant school in 2001. Early in her practice, she realized that she could not answer her patient’s questions about nutrition and supplements. Then, she stumbled on an environmental medicine course through the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She explored other course offerings until she heard of an NIH-sponsored Integrative Oncology Fellowship through the University of Michigan. When she was not accepted, she knew this was her sign to dive fully into her passion. She graduated from the University of Arizona, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship in the Fall of 2021.
As luck would have it, the final cohort of the University of Michigan Integrative Oncology Scholars program was recruiting it’s last cohort as she was graduating. One year dedicated to Integrative Oncology solidified her training. This lead her to re-evaluate what she wanted to do with the rest of her career in Oncology. Having worked in Connecticut, Texas, and Colorado her journey took her to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in October 2022. There was an opportunity to work both in Breast and Integrative Oncology.
As lifestyle is the basis of Integrative Medicine, she was board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in December 2023. In July 2024, she moved to a full-time Integrative Medicine position to help grow the Cancer Survivorship program at Mayo Clinic. She is a member of various professional groups including, but not limited to, the Society for Integrative Oncology, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and the Integrative Oncology Working Group. She represents the Mayo Clinic as a member of the Health Systems Council of ACLM and is faculty for the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, walking her dogs, gardening, and reading.
Emily Rawate, Breast cancer Survivor
Emily Rawate, a breast cancer survivor, will share her powerful story at the Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Rally during this year’s Twin Cities Veg Fest. Having undergone a double mastectomy with flat closure and no additional treatments, Emily’s experience emphasizes the importance of regular check-ups and trusting your instincts if you discover a lump or mass.
She encourages everyone to seek second opinions and find doctors who listen and respect their choices. Emily will also highlight how a well-planned vegan lifestyle can be a healthy choice, while warning against the dangers of refined sugar and processed foods. Each journey is unique, and Emily is excited to share what worked for her.
Jodi Gruhn, Borealle
Jodi is a catalyst for wellness transformation bringing her many years experience to inspire and educate audiences about the power of the plant-based plate. She is a Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach certified in plant-based nutrition and is a licensed Food For Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
As the Director of Wholesome Minnesota, she fiercely advocates for plant-based options in Minnesota schools partnering with nutrition leaders, parents, students and teachers to be the change in their organizations. Her small business, Borealle, helps people find + align with their health with the added benefit of building better environmental practices.
Musical Entertainment
Brooklyn Park Lions Drum Corp
The Brooklyn Park Lions Drum Corp will perform. @bp_lions
Chops, Inc.
Chops, Inc. is an “all-age” marching-arts corps and nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They offer year-round co-educational performing arts programs with a mission to improve lives through music education and the performing arts.
Hopkins Public Schools Band
The Hopkins Public School Band will perform.
Unlimited & Next Level Drill & Dance
UNL is a non-profit Drill & Dance Performing Arts program based in North Minneapolis, MN. The group performs year-round at various events, including parades, graduations, weddings, sporting events, and more. UNL’s program is designed to teach youth and young adults leadership skills through the performing arts. It follows the “we-optic vision” (“What’s in it for we”) and the “Each One Teach One” philosophy. UNL’s motto is: “Making Unlimited Possibilities in moving youth to the Next Level in their lives and in their communities.”
We look forward to seeing you at the Rally!
The Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Rally is organized by Borealle, with support from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Visit the Borealle Booth for information about ways to fight breast cancer, plant-based cooking classes and more!
We hope to see you there, joining us in the fight against breast cancer!