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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at the Shops at Wiregrass by Arlene Hein

Over 10,000 men, women, children and their pets donned their pink colored outfits to raise funds to help the American Cancer Society through the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The walk started at the Shops at Wiregrass with a everyone getting loose and stretching. The walkers wound their way all around the new Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel stopping for water stations and petting the mounted horses from the Pasco Sheriff's Office.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation. “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer unites us to walk together as the most powerful force to end breast cancer,” said Jannah McDonald, American Cancer Society community representative. “When you join Making Strides, you are supporting the world’s leader in the fight to end breast cancer. The money you raise helps the American Cancer Society do the most for people with breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow.”

Sponsors of this year’s Pasco County Making Strides event include: Presenting Sponsor: Hyundai & Mazda of Wesley Chapel; Gold Sponsors: The Shops at Wiregrass, Janice L. DeLucenay; Silver Sponsors: Tower Radiology Centers, Duke Energy, Florida Cancer Affiliates, Crowne Consulting Group; Health Education Provided by: Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel; Bronze Sponsors: BayCare Breast Centers, Florida Cancer Specialists; Pink Ribbon Sponsor: Brighthouse Networks; Supporting Sponsors: Florida Medical Clinic- Foundation of Caring, HCA – Medical Center of Trinity, Oak Hill Hospital, Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Farrell Roofing.

Visit www.makingstrideswalk.org to help the Society continue saving lives. For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-(800) 227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

From ACS MSABC: History of the Making Strides Walk.

The American Cancer Society has been saving lives for 100 years. Today, we’re helping save more than 400 lives a day that would have otherwise been lost to cancer. And we won't stop until we finish the fight. We’re putting your dollars to work now - doing the most in every community to help women with breast cancer today and working tirelessly to find cures to end the disease tomorrow.

The progress we're making because of Making Strides supporters is nothing short of remarkable. But it is no time to rest. When more walkers raise money to fight breast cancer, there will be more survivors celebrating more birthdays. So, how does the money you raise help end breast cancer? With your support, we are saving lives by:

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting nearly 300 communities to finish the fight. Every breast cancer walk and event is an incredible and inspiring opportunity to honor those who have battled breast cancer, raise awareness about what we can do to reduce our breast cancer risk, and raise money to help the American Cancer Society fight the disease with research, information and services, and access to mammograms for women who need them.

In 1984, Massachusetts cancer survivor Margery Gould Rath wanted to find a way to celebrate fellow cancer survivors by raising funds for the American Cancer Society. Working with a committee of fellow survivors and other volunteers, "Margie" created a "move-along-a-thon" called Making Strides Against Cancer to bring people together in an event to move the fight against cancer forward. The first event, held in Boston, drew 200 participants and instantly became an annual city tradition.

In 1993, the event officially became known as the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, attracting 4,000 walkers at events in Boston and in Manchester, New Hampshire. Since then, Margie's vision has inspired 8 million walkers to participate in Making Strides events in more than 270 communities across the country, raising more than $460 million to fight breast cancer. Margie remained a dedicated Making Strides volunteer for until she lost her battle with cancer in 2001.

The progress we're making because of Making Strides supporters like Margie is nothing short of remarkable. But it’s no time to rest. That's why we need your help. More walkers mean the next big breast cancer research breakthrough. More walkers mean free lodging and rides to treatment for breast cancer patients who need it. More walkers fundraising mean more survivors who will celebrate more birthdays.

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