$1.6M and counting: Meet the woman behind Cincy Men Wear Pink fight against breast cancer

A few years ago, leaders of a national fundraising campaign for the American Cancer Society called Real Men Wear Pink were looking to expand to more cities, including Cincinnati.

Officials from the campaign spent the summer of 2016 looking for a male leader in Cincinnati to spearhead the fundraiser, which was part of the organization's model − men advocating on behalf of women.

It was supposed to start in October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

In mid-September of that year, Jeanette Altenau, the community relations director at TriHealth, asked who was going to lead the campaign. The answer: a leader still hadn't been identified.

"They said we were going to wait ... because we couldn't find someone to lead the program. So on a whim, walking to an elevator, I said, 'Well, if you ask them if a woman can lead it, I'll lead it,'" Altenau said.

Her plan had been to get the Real Men Wear Pink of Greater Cincinnati organization set up, raise $10,000 that first year, and then identify a male leader from the corporate community.

The campaign raised $120,000 that first year. Altenau is still in charge.

The money pays to promote screenings for early detection of breast cancer, research and patient support.

The "Real" was dropped from the name this year.

Altenau joined the Enquirer's "That's So Cincinnati" podcast along with Jim Moehring, owner of the Holy Grail at The Banks, to talk about this year's fundraiser. Enquirer editor and podcast co-host Beryl Love is one of 27 Men Wear Pink ambassadors this year raising money.

As part of the campaign, Moehring is teaming up with The Enquirer to host a "Paint the Grail Pink" event on Oct. 25, where proceeds from the Grail that night and a silent auction will benefit Men Wear Pink of Greater Cincinnati.

Honorary co-chairs of this year's campaign are John Fay, former Enquirer Cincinnati Reds' reporter, and Dr. O'dell Owens, a public health leader and fertility doctor. Both men were longtime ambassadors who died in the past year.

Over the past eight years, the Cincinnati campaign has raised more than $1.6 million and worked with more than 175 ambassadors.

To support Men Wear Pink, click here to make a donation.

If you go

• What: Paint the Grail Pink to support Cincinnati Men Wear Pink

• When: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, October 25.

• Where: Holy Grail Tavern & Grill at the Banks

• Suggested donation: $10

• Highlights: Live musical performance by Reds Hall of Fame pitcher Bronson Arroyo, silent and live auction items including an Opening Day package from the Holy Grail.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Greater Cincinnati Men Wear Pink campaign in full swing