CENTRAL VALLEY – With the theme being “Making Strides Against Cancer,” an estimated 3,000-4,000 people showed up at Woodbury Common on Sunday morning – men and women decked in pink – some with “survivor” printed on their sleeves, to participate in the annual American Cancer Society event.
The crowd grew steadily while both survivors and those still in the struggle to heal from the disease or loss of a loved one, hugged, sat, and shared.
Sons hugged their moms while their eyes welled with gratitude for their survival. Moms held and rocked their little ones, thankful that they will be able to watch them grow up.
Others received support, both from those who had gone before them and healed.
The cancer society’s Kristi Greco said the annual event is good medicine for many who attend.
“A lot of the survivors really use this walk as a milestone that they did it, they made it for another year, and it’s a wonderful feeling to be part of that,” she said.
The emotional support came in many forms, including 45 minutes of crowd dancing with DJs making it easy by calling out the moves.
The actual walk began promptly at 9 a.m., with a countdown and cheers. Every walker was registered, but there was no line in the march, simply an incredibly large and determined crowd flowing through the commons. By the time the march began, the entire Commons had become a virtual “Pinkathon” with hundreds of pink balloons, tutu skirts, bows and a giant pink neon HOPE sign, emblematic of their determination and courage toward health.
In New York 118,830 women will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Men are also impacted by cancer, with an estimated 2,710 men nationwide expected to receive a diagnosis in 2022.
Black women are 41 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than White women overall and twice as likely to die if they are younger than 50. One in eight women will fight breast cancer in her lifetime. The number of women in the US who reported having a breast cancer screening has dropped six percent and it is the best defense from dying of breast cancer.
Disruption to their lives is an enormous side effect for those struck with the disease, and these support systems from friends, family and organizations can make a life-or-death difference.
A dozen or so therapy and family dogs also marched along, some wearing either pink jackets or held on a pink leash.
The annual walk at Woodbury has, to date, raised $12 million for cancer research. Woodbury Commons has also made a huge physical effort to support these events, with employees coming in hours early, assisting those in the crowd, some in wheelchairs, and many workers who took a little time to march along with and encourage the crowd.
