Walkers step up to fight cancer

They came wearing warm-up jackets and sweatshirts but before long, were down to T-shirts as the effort to walk against disease got under way.

The event was the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, held Oct. 4 at the JW Marriott. Many of the participants wore small pink pins, a symbol that told others they were survivors.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Before the walk began, Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman took the stage and good-naturedly dared each other to see who had the better-looking legs.

The crowd was left to judge for themselves. Only the mayor received wolf whistles, but then, the audience was overwhelmingly female.

Goodman declared the day Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Day and a representative from Gov. Kenny Guinn's office presented a proclamation to the American Cancer Society.

A representative from ACS took the microphone and made sure everyone knew Krispy Kreme doughnuts were available and were totally fat-free "but only until 8 a.m." The way the doughnuts were subsequently snatched up, it was unclear if people realized she was joking or if they were suddenly hungry.

After the crowd warmed up with aerobics, they began streaming through the arch of pink and white balloons to "make strides."

Along the walking route, which followed Alta Drive, teams carried their banners. Mothers pushed strollers. Fathers carried little ones on their shoulders. They took advantage of the water stations set up along the way.

Some hardy souls ran the course, even the uphill part.

Before they had gone halfway to the turn-around point, most of the sweatshirts and warm-up jackets were peeled off as the sun and exercise warmed things up. Almost everyone wore the specially designed T-shirts handed out at registration, making a nonstop line of color that snaked up the road.

Volunteers were posted along the route and held up posters reminding people why they were there. One sign, for example, read, "Every three minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer."

The event had more than 4,000 participants and raised $230,822 for research and programs.

Some of those programs include Reach to Recovery, a one-to-one support program, Look Good ... Feel Better, a beauty and skin care class for those undergoing chemotherapy and I Can Cope, which presents information for caregiving, medication and treatment options.

Nevada ranks last when it comes to screening women, ages 40 and above, with mammograms. Early detection increases the chances of survival.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer was sponsored by Household Credit Services, State Farm Insurance Companies, Pueblo Medical Imaging, JW Marriott Las Vegas and the Discovery Health Channel.

The American Cancer Society can be reached 24 hours a day at (800) 227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.


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