Walk for Life - SuffolkJournal.com

Not Just Another

Breast Cancer Walk

September 17, 2001

This October, tens of thousands of people will take to the boardwalk of Jones Beach State Park. They’ll all be walking in the annual American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Cancer. But Making Strides is not just another breast cancer walk. It’s a rallying cry for awareness, a way of remembering those who’ve fought and continue to fight breast cancer, and it’s the opportunity for thousands to walk as one and make a difference in the lives of people with breast cancer right here on Long Island.

On Sunday, October 14, 2001, friends, families and co-workers will gather at 9:00 a.m. at Jones Beach State Park for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. Each year for the past eight years, the five-mile, non-competitive event brings people together to stand up to breast cancer and help support life saving research, education, advocacy and patient and family services while having a good time.

“Every year I am a part of Making Strides there are more and more people,” said Diane Nicholson, American Cancer Society’s Long Island Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Director. “You see mothers, husbands, children – thousands of people all walking together and having fun. And it makes you feel great to know that each step you take helps the American Cancer Society bring us one step closer to a cure.”

“I love coming to this event and seeing so many families that have survived breast cancer,” she continued. “Plus the money we raise at Making Strides is helping other families facing breast cancer right now.”

Proceeds from Making Strides Against Breast Cancer go to support breast cancer research and local American Cancer Society patient & family service programs including:

Reach to Recovery – the American Cancer Society links newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with survivors to offer information, answer questions and provide support while serving as role models for a life after cancer.
Look Good Feel Better – A program that could be described as a makeover for the soul, Look Good... Feel Better is a one-time educational session run by professional cosmetologists. Women with cancer are taught how to manage the appearance-related side effects of treatment.
Tell-A-Friend – A peer counseling approach to encourage women to schedule mammograms and clinical breast exams.
Triple Touch – An early detection program that enables health care professionals to teach women about breast self-examination, mammography and clinical breast examination.
1-800-ACS-2345 - Trained cancer information specialists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions about cancer in English, Spanish and other languages; callers are also linked with resources in their communities and provided with information on local events.
www.cancer.org – Most reliable, user-friendly site containing in-depth information on every major cancer type in English and Spanish. Answers are provided to questions about the nature of breast cancer: causes and risk factors; the latest strategies for prevention and early detection; new diagnostic techniques; the latest treatment options and services available in your area.
Road to Recovery – Transportation to life-saving medical appointments can be a challenge for a woman with breast cancer. An American Cancer Society volunteer will drive her to and from treatment.

The American Cancer Society is grateful to the corporate sponsors who have assumed a leadership role in the fight against cancer. This year’s sponsors are WABC-TV, LITE-FM Radio; CSEA Region 1; Canon, USA; Frequency Electronics; NYSUT; Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union; and Pathmark.

For additional information about Strides or American Cancer Society programs and services, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.