Striders raise $740K to fight breast cancer
Published: October 17, 2005
Thousands gathered in Washington Park Sunday amidst an amalgam of pink balloons, ribbons and feathered boas.
The 10th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk raised $740,000, an all-time local record, to fund breast-cancer research and treatment through the American Cancer Society.
“Making strides” is symbolic of the trial women go through when they fight breast cancer in that they never walk alone, said Karen Carpenter-Palumbo, the ACS regional vice president.
“Everyone knows someone who’s affected by breast cancer,” she said. “They want to help fight the fight.”
Nearly 10,000 people showed up to the event that highlights Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Albany’s Making Strides walk grew from nearly 8,000 attendees at last year’s walk.
“Over the years great strides have been made in treatment and research,” said Carpenter-Palumbo.
While money is raised to help fund research and treatment, awareness might be the most important commodity.
“The key has been early detection,” said Carpenter-Palumbo. “The earlier, the better.” Every woman over 40 needs to get a mammogram, she said, stressing that there are ways to be screened even if a woman cannot afford it. The Healthy Woman Partnership is one initiative that provides free screening and even treatment to those without insurance or the means to pay for a mammogram.
The walk attracted people from all over. Andrea Das, a teacher at Hoosic Valley in Schaghticoke, walked alongside her mother Virginia, who visited from San Diego. Andrea’s infant daughter Anna was wrapped in a pink blanket in a baby carriage as they strolled through the park. Both know a number of breast-cancer survivors and see the walk as an all around positive community gathering.
“It’s nice to walk,” said Virginia. “It gives you a sense of community. It gives you encouragement to see the kinds of strides they made.”
Refreshments and music made the most of a cold, windy October morning in the park.
“They take care of the walkers very well,” said Andrea.
Many walkers participate in Making Strides as part of a team. Phyllis Manziano of Clifton Park participated for the fourth time with the Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc. team. About 15 to 20 people on that team raised nearly $3,000.
“Everybody pulling together for the cause, that’s a wonderful thing,” said Manziano.
Price Chopper sponsored a vendor tent selling pink bandanas, boas, candles and hot chocolate to raise additional money for the ACS. The company sponsors breast-cancer walks in Binghamton, Utica, Syracuse and Fort Edward as a means to connect with their customers as part of the community. Each store also raised money through walking teams.
“We want to do things that support our customers,” said Pam Cerrone, manager of promotions and special events.
About 1,000 women in the Capital District are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, said Carpenter-Palumbo. The figure totals about 200,000 nationwide. Locally, about 200 will die this year of 40,000 total. As the largest breast-cancer organization, the ACS constantly works to promote awareness and bolster progress in cancer treatment.
Reach to Recovery connects new patients with survivors for information and support. Look Good Feel Better offers seminars with cosmetologists who coach patients on how to manage their appearance in the face of treatment side effects. Road to Recovery provides volunteer drivers to take women to cancer-treatment appointments.
“Cancer never sleeps,” said Carpenter-Palumbo. “Neither do we.”
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