The American Cancer Society is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and fundraiser here in Corpus Christi. KRIS Communications is proud to be the media sponsor of the event since its local inception.
For a solid decade, the Coastal Bend has come together to fight the disease. And it’s working. According to the ACS, between 1989 and 2015, breast cancer death rates decreased by 39%. That amounts to over 322,000 lives saved.
Thursday morning, ACS kicked off its 10th annual Making Strides campaign with a breakfast onboard the USS Lexington. The goal is simple — to raise money in the fight against breast cancer to find a cure.
In the past decade, the Corpus Christi walk has grown from a couple thousand participants to over 15,000 people who turn the Bayfront pink every October. It’s a celebration of community and life.
This year, four local breast cancer survivors are being honored as the 2018 Portraits of Hope, including 75-year old Alvin Schneider. Schneider was diagnosed in 2017. His cancer was in his right breast. Breast cancer isn’t often thought of as a “man’s disease”, but Al would disagree. He knows, breast cancer does not discriminate. He says he knew something was wrong when he noticed a pain in his right breast every time he put his seatbelt on. Testing would later reveal he had a cancerous growth.
“I really hope that men don’t ignore it. A lot of men do, ya know, (think) ‘I’m tough’. You’re not that tough, trust me,” he said, “Get checked.”
Fortunately, Al is cancer-free today and getting ready for his 76th birthday.
Survival stories like Al’s are exactly why the American Cancer Society works so hard to raise research money.
“The American Cancer Society is proud to say that we have funded nearly all of the research breakthroughs that have come through, so it’s so very important that we keep that going” said Kayla Hanson of the Corpus Christi American Cancer Society.
The 2018 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk is happening Saturday, Oct. 20 at Bayfront Park. It includes a 5k walk, live music, food trucks, and other family-friendly activities.
Click here for more information on the walk, how to create a team, and fundraising ideas.
