Ring aids the search for a cure Breast-cancer ribbon inspired the design

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Aileen Magnotto is also making and selling healthful meals made with
hormone- and antibiotic-free meats.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

HERMITAGE, Pa. — When Aileen Magnotto went for her breast cancer treatments, all of the nurses were wearing the pink rubber bracelets to show they supported the patients and the search for a cure.

Though those bracelets didn't appeal to the Hermitage woman, she did have another idea.

"Everything is pink. I said, 'Why not a pinkie ring?'" Magnotto said.

But between her cancer treatments, working and being married and the mother of three children, Magnotto put the idea in the back of her mind for a few years.

"I'm not in the jewelry business. I had no idea where to go," said Magnotto, who along with her husband, Michael, owns the Hermitage Shop 'N Save on East State Street.

But when a mutual friend introduced her to Pittsburgh jewelry designer Caesar Azzam, the idea took on new life.

After a few design changes, the two have finally come up with a pinkie ring in the shape of the breast cancer ribbon with a pink stone inside the top loop.

Magnotto said the original design is sterling silver with a pink sapphire and it retails for about $300, but the stone and the band can be changed to anything the buyer wants.

"It's very versatile," she said.

Ten percent of the cost, whether it be the original $300 version or a higher-end version with a diamond costing thousands, will go to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation, a nonprofit group that is among the largest nonprofit contributors to breast cancer cure research.

Azzam said he has worked with other cause-related groups in the past to design jewelry used to raise money for awareness and research.

"When it's a project close to someone's heart, it gets me excited," said Azzam, who has a store in Pittsburgh's Shadyside section and sells his jewelry over the Internet.

Their first order has already been received, and Azzam said he sent it out a week ago Friday.

"We are excited that people know about it. I think the best advertising is word of mouth," Azzam said.

Magnotto, who got through her initial cancer treatment in 2005 and now remains on an oral pill to help in her recovery, said this is part of her continuing mission to help educate people about cancer.

After starting her cancer treatments, Magnotto learned her hormone-driven cancer might be related to hormones added to meat and dairy products.

Then, her husband was diagnosed last December with prostate cancer, another cancer that has been linked to hormones.

So the Magnottos started carrying hormone-free and antibiotic-free beef, chicken and pork in the family grocery store in addition to regular meats.

Magnotto now believes she has taken the natural next step by using those meats to offer already cooked healthful meals.

She has always made homemade soup and pasta, which is sold in the store. Now she's preparing chicken and rice, homemade chicken tenders, pot roast and a variety of other meals with the hormone-free meats and healthful ingredients. The meals just need to be reheated.

"I wanted to show people you can feed your children a healthy meal after soccer," she said of the meals she started offering in September.

Magnotto said one day she hopes to be able to offer her healthful meals in different areas to make sure everyone has access to such foods.

cioffi@vindy.com

Sunday, October 7, 2007