Tabatha Fields
The Corsair
In spite of the cold weather, limited parking, and heavy traffic, thousands of pink-adorned breast cancer survivors and supporters showed their care for breast cancer awareness at the 10th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk early Saturday morning in Pensacola.
People in the Cordova Mall parking lot registered for the walk as Booker T. Washington High School’s drum line awakened the crowd in the early hours of the morning.
Among the people representing the walk were the cancer survivors. Dorothy Atkins, breast cancer survivor of 23 years said, “I was 40 years old when I found out, I was hurt, sad, and most of all, I thought I was going to leave my kids back here. Just about every female in my family has had breast cancer.”
The crowd grew in excitement the closer it came to starting. There were smiling faces, numerous conversations of people sharing their stories of being a breast cancer survivor, and stories about the ones who did not survive.
Tarik Dawkins, whose mother and sister survived breast cancer, participated in the walk for his sixth time in support of his family. There were also some who walked in memory of a loved one.
“It was emotional for me just thinking how blessed I am to have two survivors, my aunt and cousin, who are still here with me today,” said Tarra Sanders.
Many participants came dressed for the occasion with their hair pink and wore breast cancer shirts with pink decoration. There were also chocolate cookies covered with pink M&M’s like the stage was decked with pink balloons.
According to www.breastcancer.org, breast cancer “refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast.” To keep the risk of breast cancer low, a person should try to help their body stay as healthy as possible. Try to refrain from smoking, limit alcohol intake, exercise regularly and keep a healthy weight.
Marilyn Archer, survivor chair for the American Cancer Society, has worked with the society since 2005 and enjoys it. “I encourage all young people to go and have their mammograms done regularly. Mammograms are nothing like they use to be, they are not painful anymore.”