Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

05 Oct 2009 10:58 AM

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One of the largest fundraising and awareness events out there is the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Making Strides officially started in 1993. However, it has a longer history than that. Boston area cancer survivor Margie Gould Rath started Making Strides Against Cancer in 1984 as a way to celebrate cancer survivors and raise funds for volunteers and survivors. The first event started with just two hundred participants... and boy, has it grown.

Since the event began, close to five million people have participated in the walk to raise awareness and funds for the battle against breast cancer. Last year (2008) nearly six hundred thousand people took part and raised more than sixty million dollars. Overall, Making Strides has raised more than three hundred and forty million dollars.

Why walk?

• To raise money for breast cancer research.
• To raise awareness about breast cancer -- including steps you can take to prevent the disease, and what to do if you are diagnosed.
• To honor breast cancer survivors.
• To help us get a little closer to a world without breast cancer.

Typical Making Strides walks are five miles long. It's not a contest -- there's no prize for the fastest walker. You don't have to hit a fundraising goal in order to participate, either. There's no minimum. Pledges are made simply for participation, not per mile walked.

Looking to find a Making Strides event near you? The American Cancer Society has events throughout the year -- not just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I just checked their online event finder, and the Portland, OR area Making Strides event was in May. My home state of New Jersey has eight Making Strides events in October alone (one in my home town, no less)!

If walking isn't your thing, there are plenty of other ways to get involved. Volunteer to help organize, assist with fundraising, or make a donation of your own. Every little bit counts in the fight against breast cancer!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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