The most significant risk factor for getting breast cancer is being a woman. So when October is upon us, you will see pink everywhere to raise everyone’s awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection.

The numbers are still not promising. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in eight women in the U.S. are at risk for developing breast cancer at some point in their life and the chance of succumbing to the disease is approximately one in 35. On the positive side, more than 2.5 million women in the U.S. have survived it due to early detection and medical advances.

Joanne Hutchins of Oyster Bay is a black belt in karate, a mixed martial artist and a personal trainer. Simply put, Joanne is a warrior. Her instinct is to battle any adversary, so in 2008, when Joanne’s 73-year-old mother was diagnosed with Stage 0 breast cancer, the most curable type, but a scary diagnosis nonetheless, Joanne joined the fight against cancer.

Exuding strength and confidence, a by-product of years of intensive physical training, Joanne says, “I’ve always been into martial arts.” The same year her mother was diagnosed, Joanne entered a “better your body” fitness competition. Seeing her “after” photo gave Joanne an idea: she’d create a calendar that could be used to fundraise for breast cancer research.

Joanne named her calendar project “Moms Who Kick” and asked other women who shared her passion for physical fitness to participate. The 2009 debut calendar featured more than 40 moms in action−either doing martial arts or lifting weights−displaying the physical results of their intense training.

“The following year we opened it up to any mom who participated in sports or fitness,” Joanne says. The proceeds went to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research. Wanting more control over where the money they raised was actually spent, Joanne decided to file for non-profit status last June, and was approved this March.

With non-profit status, Moms Who Kick can take their donations to another level. “Now we can designate money to specific studies,” says Joanne. One of the first grant recipients is Dr. Babak Mehrara, associate attending surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Mehrara is conducting a lymphedema study using acupuncture and will be receiving a minimum donation of $5,000 from Moms Who Kick calendar sales.

Joanne says that Dr. Mehrara was moved to tears when he heard the motivation behind how the funds would be raised to support his study. Laney Liner, a Moms Who Kick board member, is Dr. Mehrara’s patient and breast cancer survivor who was originally diagnosed when she was just 36 years old.

“Treat your body well, treat your mind well, and it will take care of you,” Joanne says as she shows me the as-yet-unreleased calendar, which will be available for a $20 donation.

The new design is a beautifully crafted hybrid calendar/magazine that enabled Joanne to include some editorial copy on women’s issues as well as advertising to cover the costs of printing.

“We brought it back to Long Island,” Joanne says of the many local businesses who participated in the project. The photography was donated by Jay Brenner of Brenner Lennon Photographers in Plainview, fashions were donated by Nikki’s Dressing Room in Huntington, and Lonnie’s, which has five locations on Long Island. Monies collected will go to North Shore-LIJ Katz Institute for Women’s Health and the Katz Women’s Hospital.

Most of the women featured in the calendar are from Long Island, ranging between 37 and 65 in age, and were selected after entering a contest where they each submitted a written story about how they were affected or touched by cancer. The winners were photographed wearing stylish clothes or showcasing the exercise or physical activity they most enjoy. They are all warrior-like, a result of being with Joanne.

Also featured in the newest calendar is Laura Hartman, vice president of Moms Who Kick. Laura had basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, and had to have surgery on her face. “For Laura to be photographed was so inspirational,” Joanne says. “She didn’t feel beautiful anymore [after her surgery]. Posing for the calendar gives [the women] back their beauty, it empowers them,” she adds.

Moms Who Kick is an all-volunteer organization, and, Joanne says proudly, all proceeds from their fundraisers go directly to breast cancer research. In addition to the calendar, they also sell jewelry from their Healing Star collection, designed by Long Island-native Ron Rizzo. On Oct. 4, they plan to hold their 1st Annual Fashion Show Fundraising & Networking Extravaganza to celebrate the calendar launch accompanied by a fashion show featuring the 2012 calendar models.

By keeping a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, exercise and a positive outlook, Moms Who Kick are Long Island’s newest weapon in the fight against breast cancer.

For more information, email Joanne at info@MomsWhoKick.com or go to www.MomsWhoKick.com or call 516-524-3505.