New Kids on the Block Fans Make 'Remember Betty' No. 1 Komen Team
There is something to be said about the power of fans.New Kids on the Block fans have done something very special to honor one of the members' mother.
Danny Wood lost his mother, Betty, to breast cancer in September 1999, and ever since the New Kids got back together in 2008, he took actions to keep his mother's memory alive.
Wood began a partnership with the Susan G. Komen For the Cure around 2008. He asked fellow New Kids if they could sell a special breast cancer tank top at concerts to raise funds. He got the OK, and sales alone reached than $200,000. He also raffled off his Harley Davidson to raise even more funds for breast cancer research.
Wood also set up "Remember Betty" campaign, which has turned into something the singer could never have imagined. Fans worldwide have created Remember Betty teams since about 2009, following Wood's avid dedication to finding a cure for the disease.
He then turned to one particular fan, Abbie Vicknair, to help him lead and organize teams via social media outlets.
"It's hard to say no to a New Kid, especially one you've loved for over 20 years, but it's absolutely impossible to say no to a son who misses his mother as much as Danny misses Betty," Vicknair said. "We started working together in February 2011 and the new website launched in April 2011, with the Twitter account launching shortly after that."
Because of the heavy participation of the New Kids fans nationally, Komen officials announced that Remember Betty was going to be a national team.
"It blew me away," Vicknair said. "To see Betty's name listed along major corporations, ones that are household names, brought a sense of validation to all the hard work that Danny and the fans have done.
"It's difficult, because we're not always taken seriously as a community," Vicknair continued, "but gaining national team status is something that shows everyone that we're serious about our role in the fight against breast cancer."
To date, the Remember Betty team has raised more than $846,000 for the fight against breast cancer.
Thanks to Wood's hardwork and New Kids fans around the world, it was announced this week that Remember Betty is the No. 1 Komen National Team.
"I miss my mother everyday but what we have accomplished together is truly amazing!" Wood tweeted on Aug. 9. "I love you mom! I hope you are proud of me and all the BH's helping fight breast cancer."
If you are interested in joining a Remember Betty team, visit any of the team's social media sites:
Twitter: Remember Betty
Remember Betty Facebook
RememberBetty.com
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