Breast cancer survivors, family and friends will come together on Tuesday, October 27, for the 16th annual Breast Cancer Celebration of Survivorship of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program. The free event, held at Adelphi's University Center Ballroom in Garden City, LI, begins at 6:15 pm with a light supper; the program starts at 7 pm.

Five breast cancer survivors will speak about their personal experiences with the disease and what sustained them and helped them to move forward:

Lisa Lisa is acknowledged as the Queen of Latin Hip Hop Soul. She was the front-woman of Cult Jam, one of the original freestyle music groups of the 1980s. Lisa has appeared on and off Broadway over the course of her 25-year career and on many television shows. In 1989 the White House honored her with the National Hispanic Heritage Presidential Tribute as the Most Accomplished Latin American Artist. Twenty-one years ago, Lisa was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma at the age of 21.

Gretchen Penn, whose maternal grandfather, mother and aunt all had breast cancer, was 31 years old when she was diagnosed in 2005. She is a political and legislative coordinator with CSEA Region I, the Civil Service Employees Association for Nassau and Suffolk. She is married to New York State Assemblyman Marc Alessi.

Wilma Carroll is the founder of Sisters of Greater New York whose mission is to erase the fear of breast cancer in African American women through support groups. She is a special education educator for Nassau BOCES and outreach coordinator to African Americans for Sisters United in Health. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 when she was 43 years old.

Liz Snow is an oriental medicine practitioner. She is nationally certified as a Diplomate in acupuncture and Chinese herbology and is also a qi gong practitioner and instructor. She was a member of a task force that developed oriental medicine protocols for treating breast cancer. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and 2009.

Anne Hogan is a volunteer with the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program, providing information and emotional support to callers. She was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago, at age 50. Ms. Hogan is a real estate agent.

There is no charge. Reservations are required; call 516-877-4325.

Anyone who is worried about breast cancer should call the hotline for help at 800-877-8077. You are not alone.