Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

On October 16, 2011, the American Cancer Society held the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is an opportunity to help fight breast cancer by raising funds and awareness. The walk is not a race, but rather a gathering honoring those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, while celebrating those who are survivors as we work together to end this disease. The slogan for this year’s event was “More pink for green,” meaning that with the generosity and donations from this year’s participants the American Cancer Society hopes to find a cure to this terrible disease. The goal for this year is $ 900,000 and will hopefully be reached by the 10,000 walkers who signed up for the event.

On this beautiful fall day families, friends, and even pets were dressed in pink attire as they came out to enjoy the company of others and help find a cure for breast cancer. The activities started at nine o’ clock in the morning with registration at Flushing Meadows Corona Park. In addition, various tents were set up by different organizations in order to inform people about breast cancer and ways they can help make a difference. Also, many of these tents accepted donations for the cause and handed out refreshments, in order to help people keep their energy up. One of the main events that helped get the crowd pumped up and ready to walk was the performance by St. John’s University’s cheerleaders and dance team. Thanks to their enthusiasm and liveliness they were able to lift the spirits of so many people including cancer survivors.

The cancer survivors were the focal point of the event and lead the walk as we celebrated their victory in their battle against cancer. One cancer survivor said that she does this walk because it allows her to help others who are going through what she went through by providing them with emotional support. She also said that participating in the walk reminds her that she is lucky to have survived and that she is grateful to have come this far and to be alive. Many emotional stories were exchanged among the cancer survivors. Another woman, named Myra shared her story about her ongoing battle with breast cancer. Myra had beat breast cancer once before in 2002, when she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. She was given chemotherapy and radiation for six weeks. She then remained cancer free for nine years. Last November, she went for a mammogram screening and everything was normal. However, in December she felt a lump in her breast and went to the doctor. When Myra went to the doctor they told her it was nothing and sent her home. Myra, however, continued to feel worse and worse and could feel the lump getting bigger. She soon came down with a fever in January and went back to her doctor. This time the doctor took blood tests and did a sonogram. The sonogram showed there was a change in her breast and that the tumor had gotten bigger. They then did a biopsy, which showed the tumor was cancerous. The doctor then removed the tumor and started chemotherapy. This time Myra has stage four cancer. Myra has currently been undergoing treatment at Elmhurst Hospital. Myra said she is doing the walk because both she and her friend have cancer and that they are grateful they have the energy and strength to complete the walk this year. In addition, Myra said that she believes that it is important to keep positive in order to beat the disease again and that is what the walk enables her to do.

The walk was not only important to cancer survivors and those who are struggling in the ongoing battle against cancer, but also to those who have lost a loved one as a result of breast cancer. Throughout the walk posters could be seen of those who were being remembered and honored by their loved ones as a result of completing this walk. The walk not only provided a good source of exercise and support system, but also allowed for the formation of new friendships and ideas to be shared. The walk started at 111^th Street and made its way to the Unisphere of Flushing Meadows Park (the globe), the National Tennis Center, past the Queens Zoo and Hall of Science, and finally ended where it stared. The completion of the walk was a victory in many ways. It showed that we can work together to make breast cancer a thing of the past allowing people to live longer, happier lives. It also signified our respect and honor for those who were not as fortunate and lost their lives in this battle.

The walk was made possible by the over two hundred volunteers who dedicated their time and efforts in order to make this year’s walk a success. In addition, many organizations supported the event by collecting donations, giving out goods, and walking. These organizations included Jamaica Hospital, Jet Blue, Queens Hospital, Main Street Radiology, Elmhurst Hospital, Local 342, Local 338, UFT, and St. John’s University. Various high schools including Forest Hills High School and Bayside High School also participated in this event, showing that people of all ages can help make a difference. 

The director of the event, John Link, said that this year’s walk was successful and exceeded expectations. John also said, “ We moved our walk site this year, so there was a lot of extra work and stress about planning that, and when all was said and done, we couldn’t have been happier. There is a lot to work on and improve on, but overall, all things considered we had a great walk.” According to John, the event started eighteen years ago in Queens and it is a year round process in terms of planning. In the Queens office there are nineteen people who work internally on the event. However, there is also a centralized staff that works on the collateral, website, customer service, and databases. In addition, they were able to promote the event through word of mouth, posters, brochures, phone calls, emails, radio, television, websites, and sponsors. John also added that, “There is LOTS people can do to help. Form teams, walk, sign up online, fundraise, promote the event, invite survivors, try to secure sponsors, volunteer at the walk, volunteer at the office, send out emails to get donations!” However, despite the success of the event this year John and his crew hope to make next year’s event even better. “Many things have to be ironed out and considered, but we are going to do what we have to do now to make sure this year was successful, and start early and start planning the logistics of it next year, and make it event better!”

This year’s walk was a success due to the support and help of the volunteers and sponsors. To help make difference and next year’s walk even better visit the American Cancer Society’s website, www.cancer.org, to sign up and learn more about what you can do to help.