Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Together We're Making Strides in Boston
Sunday, October 4, 2009

When you get involved in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, you help ensure that progress against the disease continues. More and more women are surviving breast cancer, but this year, in Massachusetts alone, about 4,800 women (and some men) will be told, "You have breast cancer." We walk because we know that hope starts with us. Because we can make a difference. Because we want to help build a future where breast cancer no longer threatens those we love. With each step, we are saving lives.

 

For more information on how to get in involved with the American Cancer Society, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

About Making Strides

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the American Cancer Society's premier event to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. But it's more than just the name of a walk - it describes the amazing progress we're making together to defeat this disease. Since 1993, nearly 5 million walkers across the country have raised more than $340 million through Making Strides. Making Strides in Boston is the nation's oldest and largest one-day event to fight breast cancer. Last year's event attracted nearly 40,000 participants and raised $3.4 million. Making Strides is a five-mile noncompetitive walk to save lives.

Making Strides is your opportunity to honor breast cancer survivors, educate women about breast cancer prevention and early detection, and raise funds and awareness to help achieve a day when no one will have to hear the words, "You have breast cancer."

Everyone Can Participate

The success of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer depends on you. Individuals who walk and raise pledges are the key to finding a cure for breast cancer. Organizations or businesses can sponsor their own team of walkers. Volunteers are needed to help at the event with registration, traffic, information and many other important functions.

Team Up to Save Lives

Nothing can describe the camaraderie of walking with those who share a passion for curing breast cancer. Get your friends involved and recruit a group to walk with you. It's important to arrange to meet your fellow team members before registration.

Registration Is Simple

There is no pre-registration or registration fee for the event. Register on the morning of the event and bring your donations with you. Contact your local American Cancer Society office for a walk paper or register to fundraise online. It's easy.

Set Your Own Fund-Raising Goal

Participants are not required to raise a minimum amount and pledges are made for your participation rather than per mile. Obtain donations of $10, $25, $50 or $100. Money may be turned in at registration.

Now that you've learned about Making Strides, sign up to walk!

Join ACS CAN Now And Let Your Voice Be Heard

By becoming a member, you will help our advocacy efforts on behalf of cancer patients, cancer survivors and others whose lives have been touched by this disease.

For more information on the benefits of becoming a member click here.

  

  

Your Dollars At Work

What happens with the money raised from Making Strides Against Breast Cancer? The funds raised through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer enable the American Cancer Society to continue its progress against breast cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

- Helping People Stay Well: Detecting breast cancer early, at its most treatable stage, can make the difference between life and death. The American Cancer Society was one of the first to promote mammography and it provides guidelines, physician education, and awareness efforts to increase breast cancer screening.

- Helping People Get Well: The American Cancer Society offers free programs for patients and families and has offices in more than 3,400 communities across the country to provide assistance when and where people need help.

- Finding Cures: The American Cancer Society invests more in breast cancer research than any other voluntary public health organization. Since 1971, it has funded more than $388 million in breast cancer research grants, resulting in the development of new breast cancer treatments.

- Fighting Back: Breast cancer is not just a health issue - it is a political one as well. The American Cancer Society advocates for all women to have access to screening tests and treatments, regardless of income. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer keeps breast cancer on the public agenda and helps promote important public policies, including those which provide access to quality health care and screening for all women. The event is also a reminder about the urgent need for increased research dollars to help find new treatments.

For more information, click here

Breast Cancer Support:

The American Cancer Society provides information and education, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year … and for that reason, we have been the most trusted resource for cancer information for nearly a century. More than a million people call our toll-free number every year at 1-800-227-2345 for information, help, and support, and we have more than 20 million people visit our Web site annually. Because cancer impacts people of every race and nationality, the American Cancer Society provides educational materials in a variety of languages.

Helping People Get Well:

Having cancer is hard. Finding help shouldn't be. That's why the American Cancer Society offers free programs and services in nearly every community across the country to ensure that cancer patients and their loved ones do not have to face cancer alone. Below are some of the support services we provide. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 anytime, day or night, or visit us at cancer.org to find out what resources are available in your community.