Katelyn Hummel
Staff Writer
People show their support for Breast Cancer in Tacoma, Saturday Oct. 13.
Oct. is breast cancer awareness month and men and women gathered in Tacoma on Oct. 13 for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer South Sound event.
The walk raised over $100,000 that went directly to the American Cancer Society. The ACS supports research for treatments and a cure for cancer as well as offering more capability for women to get mammograms.
Sarah Woodall, a 1-year breast cancer survivor participating in the walk, described her elation at her good fortune with her cancer.
“I’m feeling well, no problems,” Woodall said. “And what was so fortunate is that I never had an abnormal mammogram, though I would get those once a year, but this one was abnormal, so it was detected very, very early.”
Woodall also claimed that it was do to good doctors, a great surgeon, and a wonderful and supportive family that she was able to handle her cancer with more ease.
But not all who attend have cancer. Some come in support of loved ones with cancer. Jackie Banks tries to participate in this walk every year to support the women of her church struggling with breast cancer. She also has a sister with cancer and she hopes that her strides will help raise awareness.
Some walkers made their strides, however, as a memorial to loved ones lost.
Nicole Remington is the coach for the bonny lake relay for life event and she has been doing this for three years now. She and her daughter Anna came to the event to fight breast cancer in honor of her family.
“I have lost 11 family members to cancer of all types,” said Remington. “The American Cancer society is very near and dear to my heart.”
The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk along with the American Cancer Society have had tremendous impacts on the lives of those who have cancer as well as those who have loved ones with cancer. In honor of breast cancer awareness month many people, teams, and organizations have given so much to ACS. Some top companies involved in the South Sound event were Carol Milgard Breast Center, Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc., and PartyLite, each donating around $3,000.
“Cancer doesn’t know zip codes, it doesn’t know annual salaries, it doesn’t know race, it doesn’t understand who it’s affecting, and it’s affecting everybody,” Remington said.
