Each year, for one delirious stretch of Himmarshee Village in downtown Fort Lauderdale, the street turns into a wobbling runway of stilettos—this year on May 2—as women and men stride (and occasionally teeter) in sky-high heels while children, canines, and a sea of pink wigs add to the spectacle and cameras flash through the cheering crowd. For Tammy Gail, the scene represents far more than comic relief. It is the public face of a mission she has spent two decades building.
Glam-A-THON™, the charity behind High Heel Hike™, has become one of South Florida’s most recognizable grassroots fundraisers for breast cancer support. Over the past two decades, Glam-A-THON™ events have donated roughly $750,000 to help families across the region navigate the challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis.
On May 2, the event returns to mark its twentieth anniversary, bringing the city back to the street where it all began.
The story behind the spectacle begins with a phone call Tammy never expected to make.
Diagnosed with breast cancer while raising her young son as a single mother, she remembers confronting a fear that had little to do with medicine.
“Probably the most difficult thing a single mom with sole custody of her child has to do is find a next of kin,” she says. “I remember calling my sister in New Jersey to make sure my son, David, would have a loving home if my outcome was different.”
Treatment moved quickly. What began as a lumpectomy became a mastectomy, then a bilateral mastectomy followed by multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. Amid the rush of appointments and procedures, Tammy found herself fighting to hold onto something many patients quietly lose during treatment.
Her sense of self.
“I told my doctors I didn’t want to lose my ‘me,’” she says. “The exterior certainly looked different, but I was still Tammy Gail—a mom, sister, daughter, friend. I didn’t want to become just a clinical study.”
That determination became the foundation for Glam-A-THON™.
“Following my mastectomy and recovery, I promised myself to make a meaningful impact for women with breast cancer in a way that would be noticed,” Tammy says.
Her answer was deliberately unconventional.
“There are so many organizations surrounding breast cancer that we had to do something to stand out,” she explains. “Cancer is a somber topic, and I was sick and tired of the pink ribbon becoming a defining icon in my life. I wanted an irreverent event that made people stop, notice, and laugh a little.”
The High Heel Hike™ did exactly that. The premise is simple: participants of every shape, size, and background strut or sashay along the New River in stilettos. The result is chaotic, hilarious, and impossible to ignore. What began as a playful stunt evolved into something larger. Over time, Glam-A-THON™ built a network of volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who believed the event’s humor opened the door to a more serious conversation about how cancer reshapes everyday life.
Last year, the organization directed its fundraising toward Gilda’s Club South Florida, which provides free emotional support and community programming for people impacted by cancer.
“Unlike traditional hospital-based care, which focuses primarily on medical treatment, our model addresses the emotional, social, and practical challenges that come with a diagnosis,” says Kim Praitano, President and CEO of Gilda’s Club South Florida. “Our members are surrounded by others facing similar challenges, creating a space where no one has to go through cancer alone.”
Tammy felt that philosophy immediately when she first walked through the organization’s doors.
“As soon as I walked into the lobby of Gilda’s Club on my first tour, I knew it was special,” she says. “There is a Zen feeling when you walk into the building. I know how stormy the sea is when you’re going through treatment, and having a space that brings a deep sense of calm is very healing.”
According to Praitano, Tammy’s events have done more than raise money. They have strengthened the broader support network surrounding patients and caregivers.
“Tammy brings the South Florida community together through the High Heel Hike™,” Praitano says. “Her energy and persistence raise critical funds while allowing us to remain focused on delivering essential services.”
The assistance Glam-A-THON™ provides often reaches people at the most human level: helping families cover living expenses during treatment, supporting caregivers, or stepping in when a patient’s finances collapse under the weight of medical appointments.
“The key word is dignity,” Tammy says. “Our mission is to provide dignity to every patient we have the honor of helping.”
This year’s anniversary event will be the most ambitious yet, with television anchor Lynn Martinez and drag performer Amanda Austin serving as emcees. “We are about to throw the biggest pink party Fort Lauderdale has ever seen,” Tammy says.
Twenty years in, the formula remains the same: joy, community, and a pair of stilettos turning laughter into lifelines for families who need them most. Gail hopes this year’s celebration will push Glam-A-THON™ past a milestone she once only imagined—$1 million donated to South Florida families—as teams, sponsors, and brave volunteers sign up to help Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye.
