Saturday, Sept. 23 marked the fourth annual Breast Cancer Victory Day on Long Island. The goal was to celebrate and honor the real winners in the fight against breast cancer - those who have beaten or are now fighting the disease personally.

The day, which is presented by KeySpan and the Mather-St. Charles Health Alliance, is designed each year to be a celebration of life and remembrance for all those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. It was designed to provide hope and inspiration to the many women who are just beginning their fight, by showing them living proof that breast cancer need not be a death sentence, that it can be beaten, and that they can go on.

To assist women in reaching the celebration, the Long Island Rail Road ran a special Victory Train that provided free transportation for those attending. The train made 15 stops between Penn Station in Manhattan and Port Jefferson Station, with decorations and cheering crowds on hand at each stop to support the train and its passengers on their journey. The LIRR also provided free return rides for those making the journey to Port Jefferson. Free buses carried celebrants between Port Jefferson Station and Mather Hospital, where the actual celebration took place.

The women networked with each other on the train, signed each other's t-shirts and shared experiences. The train is decorated with pink ribbons and streamers and the front of the train itself had a giant pink ribbon.

Approximately 600 women participated from all over Long Island, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. The day included inspirational guest speakers, lunch and a grand finale.

This year, Victory Day honored the woman who was instrumental in spearheading the efforts of the United States Postal Service to create the nation's premier breast cancer stamp. Diane Sackett Nannery, a native Long Islander and employee of the US Postal Service - Long Island District, was also the driving force behind the creation of the Breast Cancer Victory Day.

"We presented Nannery with a stained-glass replica of the stamp," said Barbara Wrede, director of Public Relations at the hospital. "It was very emotional."

Ed Lowe, author, radio host and Newsday columnist, was the guest speaker. He shared some inspirational stories with the women that his readers from Long Island have written in to him.

The finale of Victory Day included 600 pink balloons being released by breast cancer survivors at the celebration in remembrance of the 600 people who died from breast cancer last year on Long Island.

"The day was very heartwarming and inspirational," said Wrede.