Join us for the Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Rally this year at Twin Cities Veg Fest. We invite everyone to come support this kickoff to October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Schedule and Locations
11:30am—Bands/drummers march through festival grounds to Compassionate Action for Animals Music and Activities Stage.
11:45am—PHOTOS at the Compassionate Action for Animals Music and Activities Stage
12pm—Speakers: Lisa Ellsworth, Lisa Lynch, and Jodi Gruhn
12:45pm—Cooking demo on preventative foods and sample distribution at the stage
Volunteers Needed
Sign up to volunteer at the rally here (scroll to end of page).
Rally Details
Enjoy powerful performances while supporting an important cause! At the rally, local experts, youth percussionists, and performers will “beat the drum” for breast cancer prevention and offer practical tips to help you lower your risk.
You’ll hear from speakers including Mayo Clinic Breast Oncologist Lisa Ellsworth, who will share evidence-based ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer and recurrence. One of the four key lifestyle steps is healthy eating—and you’ll have the chance to sample flavorful foods that may help protect against breast cancer. You will also hear from survivor Lisa Lynch of Dragon Diva who will demonstrate how exercise becomes your superpower against cancer
The Let’s Beat Breast Cancer campaign highlights four simple, science-backed steps: eat more plant-based foods, stay physically active, limit alcohol, and aim for a healthy weight. Together, we can turn awareness into action.
The reason behind the rally
Half a century ago, the United States declared a “war on cancer,” yet current statistics predict that during our lifetime, one in eight women will develop breast cancer. Research has shown that more than one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States are due to poor diet, yet most are unaware of the connection. Faced with these startling statistics, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine developed the Food for Life: Let’s Beat Breast Cancer curriculum based on their groundbreaking Cancer Project curriculum. Certain diet patterns seem to have a major effect in helping people diagnosed with cancer live longer, healthier lives. Our speakers are trained in this curriculum.
Speaker: Lisa Ellsworth, Instructor of Oncology
Lisa Ellsworth, an Instructor of Oncology, has been caring for patients in an Oncology setting since graduating from Physician’s Assistant school in 2001. Early in her practice, she realized that she could not answer her patient’s questions about nutrition and supplements. Then, she stumbled on an environmental medicine course through the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She explored other course offerings until she heard of an NIH-sponsored Integrative Oncology Fellowship through the University of Michigan. When she was not accepted, she knew this was her sign to dive fully into her passion. She graduated from the University of Arizona, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine Fellowship in the Fall of 2021.
As luck would have it, the final cohort of the University of Michigan Integrative Oncology Scholars program was recruiting its last cohort as she was graduating. One year dedicated to Integrative Oncology solidified her training. This led her to re-evaluate what she wanted to do with the rest of her career in Oncology. Having worked in Connecticut, Texas, and Colorado her journey took her to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota in October 2022. There was an opportunity to work both in Breast and Integrative Oncology.
As lifestyle is the basis of Integrative Medicine, she was board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in December 2023. In July 2024, she moved to a full-time Integrative Medicine position to help grow the Cancer Survivorship program at Mayo Clinic. She is a member of various professional groups including, but not limited to, the Society for Integrative Oncology, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and the Integrative Oncology Working Group. She represents the Mayo Clinic as a member of the Health Systems Council of ACLM and is faculty for the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, walking her dogs, gardening, and reading.
Speaker: Lisa Lynch
Lisa Lynch is a two-time breast cancer survivor, single mom, and passionate survivorship advocate and speaker. First diagnosed in her late 30s, Lisa faced a recurrence of stage 4 breast cancer last year — and today she has no evidence of disease.
She’s a proud member of the Dragon Divas, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team support group that celebrates strength, movement, and community as a dragon boat team. Scientific studies show that exercise is important in preventing cancer recurrence, and dragon boating, specifically, is beneficial to breast cancer survivors. Lisa shares her story to inspire hope, resilience, and the power of living fully after cancer.
Speaker: Jodi Gruhn, Borealle
Jodi is a catalyst for wellness transformation bringing her many years experience to inspire and educate audiences about the power of the plant-based plate. She is a Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach certified in plant-based nutrition and is a licensed Food For Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
As the Director of Wholesome Minnesota, she fiercely advocates for plant-based options in Minnesota schools partnering with nutrition leaders, parents, students and teachers to be the change in their organizations. Her small business, Borealle, helps people find + align with their health with the added benefit of building better environmental practices.
Musical Entertainment
The Edison High School Band, Hopkins Public School Band and Taiko Arts will perform.
New to Twin Cities Veg Fest -Taiko! Taiko is the Japanese word for drum and refers to the modern style of playing these drums. Wadaiko (in Japan) and kumi daiko (in North America) is movement infused, heart-pounding, dynamic group drumming. Think of it as a high energy performance art that combines music, dance, martial arts, athletics, and culture.
We look forward to seeing you at the Rally!
The Let’s Beat Breast Cancer Rally is organized by Borealle, with support from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). Visit the Borealle Booth and the Wholesome Minnesota Ask a Dietician Booth for information about ways to fight breast cancer, plant-based cooking classes and more!
We hope to see you there, joining us in the fight against breast cancer!