The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk was held at the Shops at Wiregrass. The actual walk began at 9 a.m., but there was a breakfast for the survivors at 7:30 a.m. in Cantina Laredo where walkers listened to stories from women that have gone through, and survived, breast cancer. The participants had to arrive at the check-in tent by 8 a.m. to sign in and meet up with teams to prepare for the walk.

  There were tents set up from different sponsors giving out free “goodies” like bandanas, hats, pins, food and other items. Some of the sponsors included BayCare, Hyundai Chevrolet, The Shops at Wiregrass, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and ABC Action News.

  All the teams seemed excited to be there and walk for this cause. Jannah McDonald, a community representative for the American Cancer Society, shared with the Tampa Bay Times, “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer unites us to walk together as the most powerful force to end breast cancer; when you join Making Strides, you are supporting the world’s leader in the fight to end breast cancer. The money you raise helps the American Cancer Society do the most for people with breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow,” The quote seemed to be how everyone felt at the walk – they were excited and dedicated to helping fight breast cancer.

  There were 178 teams and 1,663 participants. The teams raised $107,146. The top three teams that contributed the most donations were the Pasco Clerks for a Cure, raising $13,188, the KBR Pirates in Pink, who added $6,943, and Team Grace, providing an additional $6,890. The companies that raised the most money were the Office of Paula O’Neil, Pasco County, raising $13,188, Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute, raising $3,839, and DataMentors raising $1,245.

  This event was created by Margery Gould Rath in 1984 in Massachusetts to find a way to celebrate the survivors and raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The first walk in Boston had 200 participants. By 1993, the events in Boston and in Manchester, New Hampshire drew in 4,000 walkers.

  The money that is raised at these walks helps the American Cancer Society give women free information about the screening tests they need and how to protect themselves from breast cancer.

  The ACS also provides transportation assistance to and from treatment, free lodging during treatment, workshops and emotional support. The American Cancer Society invests a lot of the money in research to find, prevent, treat and cure cancer; in fact, according to their website, they “invest more money than any other non-governmental organization.”

  Rath’s vision went on to inspire about 8 million walkers to participate in events all over the country, raising more than $460 million.