Volume 007 Issue 002 October 2015
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, encouraging millions of people to join the fight against cancer. On October 25, 2015 at 3 p.m., the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium will be filled with pink as Memphians walk for the cause. Tracy McFall, Community Manager at the American Cancer Society in Memphis, has big plans for this year’s walk. “Breast cancer touches all people. We are the largest organization of breast cancer fund raising walks in the country. We raised about $350,000 last year and had about 8,000 walkers. We’re expecting around 10,000 walkers this year and hopefully we’ll reach our fundraising goal of $400,000.” It is free to register and participate in the walk. However, the American Cancer Society encourages everyone to fundraise.
Driven by Doing Designed, written and edited by: Ericka Smith
Funds raised from the walk go towards research and other American Cancer Society programs, such as the “Feel Better” program, which helps patients learn beauty techniques so they can feel better about themselves during cancer treatment. The money also supports the “Reach to Recovery” program, which pairs survivors with newly diagnosed patients for support, and the Hope Lodge, which offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when visiting from out of town for treatment.
The American Cancer Society encourages “Instead of asking for $25 to get a free t- U of M students to get involved by creating a shirt and come to a walk, we want people to turn team to participate in the walk or volunteering. that $25 into $100 or $200 and bring us what they “When people come together under the make,” said McFall. umbrella of pink, everyone is excited and fired up She continued, “We try to challenge and to be there because they’re celebrating a survivor engage our participants to go out in the in their life or they’re coming to remember community and talk about breast cancer and someone who lost their life.” awareness and then come together for our walk to For more information about the Making celebrate all the great things we’ve done in the Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, visit: month of October.” makingstrideswalk.org.