The fight to end breast cancer starts with a single step, and this Saturday more than 500 local participants are ready to take that step in the third-annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.
Approximately 57 teams and 531 participants have registered for the Making Strides of Mansfield walk starting with registration at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Richland Carrousel Park. According to American Cancer Society representative Terri Kangas, she expects even more walkers the day of the event.
“We had a goal of 60 teams, so we’re definitely going to hit that because we’ll have teams register tomorrow,” said Kangas. “Our fundraising goal is $45,000 by Dec. 31 of this year, and I really feel confident about that goal.”
So far the 57 teams of Mansfield have raised $11,711, with the top fundraising team “Brand Warriors” bringing in $2,309. Team leader Jeannine Lemus, who herself has raised $535 for the cause, said her 80 team members and fellow employees at StarTek in Mansfield have been incredibly supportive of this year’s walk.
“Our whole entire call center is decked out in pink, we have probably 300 little cards where everybody donated a dollar and they’re plastered throughout our whole call center with pink ribbons,” she said.
Lemus said her inspiration for participating in the walk is her grandmother, whom she lost to breast cancer at the age of seven.
“She was someone of old-school thinking and very scared to see the doctor, so she never even got checked out or had her mammogram done,” said Lemus. “By the time she was to the point where she couldn’t fight it any longer, she was too far gone. By getting the awareness out there like we have been in the past years, now maybe we won’t have that situation, they won’t be afraid to get the check up and fight to win.”
According to Kangas, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. She noted all money raised at Saturday’s event will support breast cancer research as well as programs and services on a local level for breast cancer patients and their families.
“Some programs include Reach to Recovery and Look Good…Feel Better,” said Kangas. “We also have a number, 800-227-2345, that people can call any time even if you’re just wanting information.
“It’s really important that we fund research because without research there’s never going to be a cure,” she continued. “Having cancer is hard, finding help shouldn’t be hard.”
One team leader who understands the fight better than most is Sherry Hebble, a nurse at OhioHealth MedCentral in Shelby. Hebble’s team, “Shelby Cancer Care,” is the third-best fundraising team having raised $867. Hebble herself is the top individual fundraiser with $575.
“I think breast cancer personally affects almost everyone,” she said. “I’m a nurse and I have a lot of patients that have gone through it.”
About 20 people make up the Shelby Cancer Care team, with fundraising efforts at the hospital a huge success. Hebble said inside the hospital is a “Wall of Hope” with cards and encouraging messages for those fighting cancer.
“We’ve had a great fundraiser here at the hospital, everybody has really come together and all of our doctors have helped us,” she said. “Everybody is very excited.”
Both Lemus and Hebble said their teams would be decked out in pink attire for Saturday’s walk, with Lemus looking forward to the camaraderie of the event.
“Every year is amazing; you meet new people, everybody is so friendly and I know every year I have a very heartfelt and interesting conversation with another participant that I didn’t know who they were until that day,” said Lemus.
“Almost everybody knows someone who’s had breast cancer,” said Kangas. “We watch these people go through their breast cancer journey and we want to make sure we help them so others don’t have to go through the same thing. We’re ready to finish the fight.”
“Almost everybody knows someone who’s had breast cancer,” said Terri Kangas. “We watch these people go through their breast cancer journey and we want to make sure we help them so others don’t have to go through the same thing. We’re ready to finish the fight.”
