When Deb Belfatto discovered that she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time, it made her realize that she—and women in general—needed to do more when it came to their health.
The epiphany led her to organize Let’s Talk: Women’s Health and Wellness—an all-day gathering focused on women’s well-being and healthy living, featuring professionals speaking on topics related to the body and mind.
The event, which takes place at Newark’s NJPAC on Saturday, October 15, from 8 am to 4:30 pm, will include expert talks on everything from mental health and menopause to fertility and heart health, Belfatto says, adding that they will cover as much as possible but also endeavor to make the day engaging and comfortable.
“When I was diagnosed a second time with breast cancer, I knew some of the best talent in the breast-health space through my work with the foundation. But I was reminded that not all women have that kind of access,” she says. “I believe everything comes with a purpose, so I decided to build a symposium that would help to re-educate and re-inform women who may have been neglectful of their own health due to the pandemic.”
Belfatto, a community activist for women’s causes who lives in Summit, is the founder and former executive director of the Susan G. Komen organization’s North Jersey affiliate. “Through my years of leadership at Komen North Jersey, my platform was based on a personal belief that every woman is deserving, entitled and worthy of the highest standards of healthcare,” she explains in the event description.
Tickets are $25 for general admission, and sales end on October 13. Admission includes breakfast, lunch and a swag bag of health-inspired goodies to go—plus a healthy-living guide containing resources, pages for notes, and inspirational quotes and stories. For more information, visit the event website.