Cheerleaders from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Parish and Elementary School in Farmington cheering on Walkers during the 2016 event. Whitney Brown | The Washtenaw Voice.
By: RJ Hunt
Editor
During the month of October, you will see a lot of pink. That’s because October is breast cancer awareness month and the pink is to symbolize that. WCC is getting in on the action for the month. On Saturday, Oct. 22, WCC will be the home of the 2022 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. This is the 20th year of the Making Strides walk.
Last year’s event was hosted at Palmer Field on the University of Michigan’s campus. WCC is proud to be the host once again. “(Making Strides) came to us because they thought we had a beautiful campus, adequate parking, and an easy to walk route,” said Student Activities Supervisor, Rachel Barsch. Barsch loves how the campus
The goal of the walk is to bring the community together with a very important goal in mind. The goal of fighting breast cancer by finding a way to end it. The walk is a fundraiser as proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society in support of their fight against breast cancer. “I know fundraising can be difficult…we would like you to come out and celebrate with us,” Barsch said. “Join our team and walk, but don’t feel like you have to walk.”
According to the American Cancer Society’s website, breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the U.S. behind skin cancer. It’s the second leading cause of death behind lung cancer. During a woman’s life there is a 13% chance she will be diagnosed with breast cancer. “It’s such an important event for us because my mom has breast cancer,” said PT Health Sciences Support, Ana Andrade. “For me, it’s such an amazing opportunity to make everyone aware of that. We make all (of those diagnosed) know they have support and we are trying to do everything we can for them. I’m really excited for that.”
The fundraising goal is $100,000 this year as the money will go to the American Cancer Society. survivors in the US,” said ACS Senior Development Manager, Alexis Velazquez in an email to The Voice. “Due to the research and work that ACS has funded, we currently have 3.8 million breast cancer survivors. We have so many incredible women to celebrate who have fought hard to beat cancer, and also those who we have lost that we honor.”
Velazquez is very proud of being a part of the planning process, as she called the experience “rewarding.” “I get to meet many survivors and hear their stories with breast cancer and it really drives the work I do,”Velazquez. “The team at ACS is incredible and we all elevate our events each year by sharing ideas, which also helps on the planning side. This events is a team effort through and through.”
Details to know for the walk:
What: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
Why: To raise money for breast cancer awareness
When: Saturday October 22. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. There will be a program that begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by the walk kicking off at 10 a.m.
Where: Walk starts and ends at WCC’s Community Park. (The route is around a mile long. Participants are encouraged to walk 3 laps so they will have completed a 5k.)
How to Donate: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=strides_donate_now
