Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream native Joanne Ameruoso brought her message of “faith over fear” to the community once again with her Sept. 19 fundraiser, “Give Breast Cancer the Boot,” held at St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook.
The country line dancing event drew about 70 attendees for an evening of music, dancing, and advocacy, with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
“We had a sea of pink throughout the room, spirits were high, everybody was so supportive,” Ameruoso said. “We had some survivors with us, people who had lost came in memory of their loved ones. The DJ was great, Ray (Swartz). We danced, Rochelle (Davis) taught lessons, and it was just blessed. We had so much fun.”
Ameruoso’s dedication to the cause stems from a personal place. Her grandmother, aunt and mother all faced breast cancer, and in 2013, her mother died after choosing not to seek medical care. The loss led Ameruoso to turn her grief into advocacy.
She also wrote a self-published memoir, “Faith Over Fear”, which grew out of journaling after her mother’s death. Ameruoso often gives copies of the book away at her events, hoping to provide guidance and reassurance. At the Sept. 19 fundraiser, she shared it with women who were survivors or who had experienced loss.
“I felt that the book would actually show them that they can do this and they’ll be okay, and that they’re not alone,” Ameruoso said.
Ameruoso addressed attendees during the night, sharing her story as a “previvor,” someone who takes preventive action against cancer. After learning through genetic testing that she carried a variant of Lynch syndrome, she chose to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce her risk. She also spoke with women seeking advice about their own family histories, emphasizing the importance of genetic awareness and early action.
The fundraiser highlighted how collective effort and community involvement play a role in supporting breast cancer research and moving the cause forward.
“I would, of course, take the time to say thank you to all that attended, all that supported and the ones that donated their time, the Knights of Columbus, of course, just thank you to everybody for their support,” Ameruoso said. “Know that we are making strides in breast cancer; we’ve had a recent breakthrough at Cold Spring Harbor. So, it’s important that we keep attending, educating ourselves and supporting the cause, because we are, we’re moving forward.”
Looking ahead, Ameruoso is preparing for another fundraiser on Oct. 26 at Pizzeria Undici in Massapequa.
