Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Bronx is hosting its official kickoff breakfast on Wednesday, August 6 at Marina del Rey.
The kickoff breakfast marks the official kick off of fundraising season for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Bronx Walk said Bronxite Lizzette Dorado, interim senior manager for the NYC Metro Area and Director of the Bronx Walk.
The breakfast is usually attended by past team leaders for the walk, new team leaders, community activists and business leaders, who will hear stories from past participants and survivors.
The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Bronx Walk will take place at 8 a.m., Sunday, October 19 at Orchard Beach.
The main event is the 3-mile walk, but the morning also includes other activities, refreshments, and entertainment.
The walk has a great energy and atmosphere, said Dorado, and the event typically draws about 11,000 people.
“The Bronx walk is one of the most vibrant walks I’ve been to,” she said.
She feels the extra energy comes from the pride Bronxites take in coming together as a community to help one another.
Money raised by the walk goes towards American Cancer Society programs for women with Breast Cancer. These include Look Good, Feel Good, a makeover program to help newly diagnosed women feel more comfortable with their hair loss or change in skin pigmentation; a free wig program; Road to Recovery, a program where volunteers give patients free rides to their treatments; and the Hope Lodges, 31 sites across the country that provide free lodging for patients being treated away from home.
Last year the Bronx walk raised about $560,000, said Dorado, and she’s setting the goal higher this year.
“We always strive to raise more,” she said.
Participants who sign up as a team get assigned a fundraising coach, said Dorado, who can advise them about organizing events like bake sales.
“It makes the process very easy,” said Dorado.
Bronxites can sign up to walk as an individual as well. The walk has no registration fee and no minimum donations to participate, said Dorado.
“We really depend of the good faith of people to reach out to associates and friends to raise the money,” she said.
Participants can learn strategies for fundraising at the kickoff breakfast, which is also a free event.
Those interested can still attend the breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 6, at Marina del Rey, One Marina Drive.
RSVP by Tuesday, August 5 to Lizzette Dorado at 718-547-5064 ext. 65238.
Sign up to participate in the walk as an individual or team at www.makingstrideswalk.org/bronx.
