No training is necessary for this noncompetitive, inspirational event that raises awareness and funds to fight breast cancer and provides hope to all people facing the disease. The suggested minimum $200 raised by each participant will help the American Cancer Society continue to lead the way in advancing breast cancer prevention, treatment, patient services and cures.
"For the American Cancer Society, pink ribbons aren't just an October occurrence; they're a year-round commitment," said Katherine L. Griem, M.D., president of the American Cancer Society's Illinois Division. "We 'Pink Differently' by helping breast cancer patients in communities across Illinois every day of the year."
For more information, visit www.IllinoisCancerHelp.org.
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In the Chicago area, seven Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks will be held in the following locations on Sunday, October 16:
- Chicago Lakefront -- Montrose Harbor (7:30 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. walk)
- North Shore --Westfield Old Orchard (8 a.m. registration; 8:30 a.m. walk)
- South Suburban -- Centennial Park, Orland Park (8 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. walk)
- Fox Valley -- Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora (8 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. walk)
- Northwest Suburban -- AT&T Campus, Hoffman Estates (8 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. walk)
- Lake County -- Independence Grove, Libertyville (8 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. walk)
- DuPage County -- Cantigny, Wheaton (8 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. walk)
Additional Chicago area Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks include the Joliet event on Sunday, October 2 at the Chicagoland Speedway and the McHenry County event on Saturday, October 15 at Lions Park in Cary.
For more information on the all of the Chicago area Strides events, visit makingstridesillinois.com or call 312-279-7376.
The powerful and inspiring Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk empowers everyone to help create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays, by supporting the American Cancer Society in its mission to save lives. The Chicago area Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks are among the more than 250 events being held across the country this year. More than 30,000 participants are expected at the 16 walks scheduled at locations throughout Illinois in October, which is expected to raise $2.8 million for the fight against breast cancer.
According to the Illinois State Cancer Registry, an estimated 9,850 women in Illinois will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and approximately 1,880 will die from the disease. Funds raised by Strides participants enable the American Cancer Society to save lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, finding cures and fighting back. The Society helps people stay well by showing them steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer and find it early, when it's most treatable. Despite continuing debate over how often and at what age women should receive mammograms and screening, the Society continues to recommend yearly mammograms and breast exams for women aged 40 and older.
The support and participation of volunteers in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer also enables the Society to help people get well, by providing round-the-clock resources and hands-on support to those facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Strides helps fund programs to help the newly-diagnosed, including the Society's Patient Navigation Services, designed to fill a critical void in health care and social services by acting as a full-service navigator to anyone touched by cancer. The services provided by the American Cancer Society include transportation assistance to treatments; discounted lodging at hotels for patients who need to travel to receive care; insurance coverage assistance; resource matching and referrals; and cosmetic help such as a free wig or headwear for patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. The Society also offers cancer information and access to support groups via its call center, accessible anytime at 800-227-2345, and at its Web site, www.IllinoisCancerHelp.org
Funds raised at the events also support groundbreaking research. While some organizations support only breast cancer research, the American Cancer Society funds research for all types of cancer. Discoveries in one area often yield answers in another, and as a result, the Society has been part of every major breast cancer breakthrough in the last century. In addition, the American Cancer Society successfully fights for laws that increase access to mammograms and treatment for all women to help defeat breast cancer and rallies communities to join the fight.
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force with more than 100,000 volunteers in Illinois and millions elsewhere, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer, and countless more who have avoided it, will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more or get help, call us any time at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org
