The American Cancer Society will hold their annual Breast Cancer walk in the Bronx in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On Sunday, October 18, ACS will host the 13th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Bronx walk at Orchard Beach to raise funds for breast cancer treatments and spread awareness on the deadly disease in the middle of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The three-mile walk, which will start at 10 a.m. on One Orchard Beach Road, will give participants an opportunity to donate their efforts and funds to Bronx residents who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are fighting towards being cancer free. Check in for the walk will begin at 8 a.m.
According to ACS, over 230,000 women in the United States are expected to be newly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, as breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in woman behind skin cancer. Additionally, over 40,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer this year.
As a result, the walk, which will run from 10 a.m. to about noon, will raise money for ACS Breast Cancer programs, such as the Free Wig Program, which provides appointments for women losing hair from chemotherapy with licensed cosmetologists, Look Good Feel Better, which provides diagnosed women with make up sessions, as well as Road to Recovery, which provides free rides for diagnosed women to and from their medical appointments.
The walk, which involved 500 people in its first year, is expecting to see 12,000 participants this year, including Assemblyman Carl Heastie, Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, among other local politicians.
Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto are also expected to attend the event, both of whom are sponsoring teams for the walk.
“This is a great cause to get involved in,” said Benedetto, who is sponsoring a team in the walk for the 10th year. “I lost my sister to breast cancer almost 30 years ago, so the topic of breast cancer and this walk really hits home. This event has grown each year with increasing participation, and I am happy to be joining and supporting the survivors as well as their families and other residents who are also walking.”
“This event is primarily about spreading the word, raising awareness and, most importantly, saving lives,” said Michael Singer, a male breast cancer survivor who will walk with Team Benedetto. “I am proud to be walking as a part of Benedetto’s team to support a great cause like this.”
With Benedetto, Singer has pushed for national recognition in making the third week of October ‘Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week’.
“This walk is committed to generating interest and awareness in helping find a cure to end breast cancer,” said Sarah Delany, who will participate in the Manhattan walk after walking in the Bronx since 2009 with Hostos Community College.
“Walking at Orchard Beach brings out hardy individuals who brave the cold, crisp, clean and fresh morning air as they walk for a valuable cause.”
“I’ve been to many breast cancer walks, but I’ve never seen a community quite as driven and willing to help others like the Bronx is,” said Lizzette Dorado, senior market manager for ACS of the Bronx.
A shuttle service, which will begin at 5:30 a.m., will be available to take participants to and from Orchard Beach, and will run throughout the day.
The walk’s festivities will also include live entertainment.
To further heighten the anticipation of the event, ACS will not announce the names of the performing artists until the day of the walk.
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