This month, SNN is honoring Breast Cancer awareness month with stories every day. On Saturday, strength was overflowing at Nathan Benderson park.
Thousands of breast cancer victims and supporters came together for the Annual Strides against Cancer walk at Nathan Benderson Park Saturday.
“The energy is just amazing because people have just been excited to get out here. They want to be together, they want to be in this community event, and we are just so excited to be here,” says Bethany Lynch, American Cancer Society.
“It’s really amazing and the support from the volunteers is very heartwarming and just to know that so many people have this on their radar is incredible,” says survivor Nicole Martinelli.
The 5k was open to anyone who wanted to participate. Besides the walk, there were local vendors, live music, and a whole lot of support.
“You look around, you see not only breast cancer survivors but all the people who have supported them along the way. We have community support, businesses that support us, large corporation that support us and we have families coming out just to be part of the celebration, its amazing,” says Lynch.
The walk was one of hundreds going on around the country hosted by the American Cancer Society.
“We have raised already over 400,000 dollars in this community for The American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society of course funds research and programs and services for all patients and anyone going through cancer any time of their journey and we rely on the donations and the support from the community,” Lynch says.
The event returned to Nathan Benderson after two years off due to COVID-19.
“We were about 50% down last year during COVID so we are just so happy to have the support again. It’s unreal. The celebration in this community… they’ve been waiting for it. They want to be here, they want to be around survivors and those who support breast cancer patients,” Lynch says.
Survivors from the event say the walk is empowering for those fighting against breast cancer.
“I’m still in the middle of this, I just had chemo yesterday and I’m walking today so you can do this,” Martinelli says.
“For me as a survivor, it just represents the positive out of being diagnosed with breast cancer.. there’s life after diagnosis. It’s good to be around like-minded people,” says the Survivors in Sync, a dragon boat team comprised of breast cancer survivors.