By BONNIE DELANEY
Published in the Asbury Park Press 8/04/04

LAVALLETTE - Agliata doesn't like to talk about her fight against breast cancer.

"I don't care how many years ago it happened. It's like a monkey on your back," said the Stafford Township resident, who was diagnosed with breast cancer nine years ago and is now in remission.

"It never goes away," she said.

And that is why Agliata's son and daughter-in-law, Robert Agliata and Josephine Sessa-Agliata, created the "Create a Tone" Foundation to raise money for breast cancer research.

The foundation, named after Antoinette, who is known to her family as "Tone," will be holding its inaugural breast cancer walk Sunday in Lavallette in conjunction with the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign.

"The idea was to help find a cure for breast cancer and honor my mother at the same time," Robert Agliata said.

Registration for the walk starts at 8:30 a.m. at The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe, 2305 Grand Central Ave., a business opened a year ago by Colts Neck residents Robert Agliata and Josephine Sessa-Agliata.

The walk begins at 9 a.m. and the $20 registration fee includes a Tshirt, water bottle, pledge form and map of the walk down the Lavallette boardwalk. There is an alternate route for walkers who cannot walk the full two miles.

"When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, my two brothers and I sat down and decided we had to set up a support system for her. We decided that one of us would be with her at all times to take her to doctor appointments and treatments," said Robert Agliata.

"My family made it easier for me. I had a lot of family support," agreed Antoinette Agliata, who has been married for the past 54 years to Vincent Agliata.

"Breast cancer is a disease that has robbed families of mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and friends," said Robert Agliata. "Breast cancer affects so many women that it will likely touch someone you know."

Agliata said his wife's grandmother also died from cancer.

Antoinette Agliata said she plans to walk in the "Together We Can Lick This Disease" walk, adding that Antoinette Agliata said she plans to walk in the "Together We Can Lick This Disease" walk, adding that

She also created tiny pink ribbons that will be given out to walkers and made pink neckerchiefs for children and pets who might attend the event.

Pink T-shirts featuring the ice cream shoppe's mascot, Fred, will be given to walkers.

Fred, the music man, will lead the walk, said Robert Agliata, adding that "Fred" stands for "Feel Right Every Day."

Refreshments will be served at The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe after the walk at 11 a.m.

For information about the walk, call (732) 854-2779.