On March 9, founding KISS drummer Peter Criss will be honored by the American Cancer Society as Humanitarian Of The Year at this year's Hope Lounge gala.

Chaired by Lori Kirsch, the American Cancer Society's Hope Lounge will be held in the exciting new venue Encore at 106 Schanck Road, Freehold, New Jersey 07728. The festivities will begin at 8 p.m. with designer cocktails, gourment, hors d'oeuvres, premier entertainment , dancing, live and silent auction and casino games.

Hope Lounge is one of the premier cocktail-style events of its kind to be held in Monmouth County, as more than 200 attendees, including corporate sponsors, prominent medical and business professionals as well as social and political leaders, underwriters and guests are expected to attend this exciting event.

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While some men feel embarrassed because of "this macho crap," Criss told CNN surviving breast cancer was actually a blessing. He was treated before the tumor could spread and said he was speaking about male breast cancer to raise the profile of this rare disease.

Criss, who played drums for KISS and was known as "Catman," offered this advice to men who spot lumps in their breast: "Don't sit around playing Mr. Tough Guy. Don't say 'It's going to go away.' It might not and you might not see life anymore and how beautiful that is."

Criss, who is currently working on a new rock album, told Reuters his bout with cancer had affected his songwriting.

"My lyrics are not so deep and dismal," he said.

Photo courtesy of PeterCriss.net