are tallied from Friday's Denim Day whether they will surpass their target of raising $100,000 for the month of October.

The Charity kicked off Women's Health and Breast Cancer Awareness Month by raising some $56,000 in pledges for last Wednesday's Charity Walk in Hamilton which saw some 800 walkers participate.

"On that night we took in $56,000 but there are still pledge money being collected,'' said TB, Cancer and Health Association president Judy Simons on Friday.

"The goal for the month of October is $100,000 and we are thinking at this particular time that with the response to Denim Day that we will supersede that $100,000.'' The response to the first two functions of the month -- a fashion show and tea scheduled for Sunday -- has been very encouraging to the charity which has a long term goal of raising $3 million to facilitate the building of a Cancer Resource Centre on Point Finger Road which Mrs. Simons says is under design right now.

"This is an exciting time for us, we're moving forward and meeting the needs of the community whose families have suffered from this illness,'' said Mrs.

Simons.

"It seems like it is touching everybody, if not personally than a close friend.'' The 800 T-shirts sold for the `Stepping Out' 3k and 6k fun walk, which included registration packages and pledge sheets for the participants, was the highest number ever since the walk started three years ago.

"It's overwhelming, I'm thrilled with what I'm seeing, the awareness amongst the public and the need to support our cause,'' said Mrs. Simons.

"On the night of collection we increased our fund by $8,000 on the previous night. It was a huge success.'' Mrs. Simons noted that about $47,000 was raised last year during the fun walk.

Other activities for the month include a Breast Cancer TV Forum on Wednesday, October 18 (TV9 at 8 p.m.) when the topic will be `Who is at risk from Breast/Ovarian Cancer?' Guests will include Dr. Kevin Hughes, Director of Lahey Cancer Risk Assessment Clinic in Boston and Dr. William McGregor, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Medicine (Oncology) at the University of Louisville involved in breast cancer research.

Laverne Proctor of the Bermuda Tumour Registry will also be on the panel. Also scheduled for the month will be a memorial service on Sunday, October 22 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on Church Street, as well as a `Faces of Breast Cancer' photo essay from October 16 to 27 at City Hall. On display will be photos of women who have died from breast cancer in Bermuda.