If you have never attended a breast cancer walk, there is no better time than now to do so, since October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
The experience that these walks provide is motivational and inspiring. The atmosphere is alive with people of all kinds recognizing the importance of celebrating life, and honoring those who have lost theirs. Survivors and supporters alike gather to raise awareness for breast cancer, and to one day find a cure for the disease that has taken so much from so many.
Despite this, there is one thing that cancer can never take away, and that is hope. Hope that your family and friends will live long and healthy lives. Hope that those who are fighting their battles win in the end, and that the families of those who weren't as fortunate remain strong. Hope that cancer will become a thing of the past.
Sunday, October 16th marked the date of my first breast cancer walk: the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Newark, New Jersey. The weather was perfect, and there could not have been a better day to raise awareness for such a worthy cause I spent the day volunteering, meeting survivors and their families, and taking part in the various festivities.
I went to this walk with my sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha at Rutgers University. Zeta Tau Alpha is the National Survivor Ambassador for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. We had the opportunity to meet so many of the strong survivors who are fortunate to still be with us, and were able to give them special shirts and sashes.
We also gave away countless pink ribbons to all those in attendance to put smiles on their faces and to offer a subtle reminder of this worthy cause. These little ribbons have so much meaning behind them, and represent something much bigger than just themselves. When someone wears that ribbon, they are not only raising awareness for breast cancer, but they are also standing in solidarity with all those who have been affected by the disease either directly or indirectly.
If you have not yet had the chance to attend one of the American Cancer Society's walks and are interested in doing so, you can find a full list of events here. It will be a life-changing experience that you will never forget.
