Breast cancer is not the highest occurring form of cancer in Hamilton County, and it does not kill the most women compared to other types of cancer. With early detection, it can be beat.
This is because of the countless participants in races and walks across the country who show up to raise awareness and fight breast cancer in the hopes of putting an end to the disease that has ravaged so many families.
On Sunday, Oct. 28, Chattanoogans have the chance to join the American Cancer Society and the masses who are "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" in an event to raise funds and awareness being held at Coolidge Park.
"Everybody knows somebody who has experienced breast cancer - every family, every office, every church, every school knows somebody," said Lisa Bishop, executive director of the American Cancer Society's Chattanooga office. "It's just a universal thing that people get behind."
Each year the American Cancer Society's national office determines new locations to hold the 5k Making Strides event, and Bishop said Chattanooga was chosen because of the good presence the organization already has in the community.
The local walk is restricted to the North Shore and will highlight the educational and awareness aspects involved in defeating breast cancer. A tent will be set up on-site with information and physicians who specialize in breast cancer surgery and treatment will be present answer any questions participants may have.
"This is really to raise awareness," explained Bishop. "People survive [breast cancer] if caught early enough."
Chattanooga's American Cancer Society has been recruiting teams since June of this year. Team leaders come from all kinds of experiences, many of which involve being a breast cancer survivor or being close to someone who does or has had breast cancer.
"I was really hesitant to become a team leader because I was worried I wouldn't raise enough money," said first-time Making Strides team leader Jennifer Francis. "But within the first three days I was already halfway to my goal."
Francis got involved with the organization about a year ago after discovering she had breast cancer at the unusually young age of 29. She said she wants to give back to the American Cancer Society because it has funded so much of the breast cancer research that is keeping her alive.
Registration for the event begins at noon Oct. 28 at Coolidge Park and the walk begins at 2 p.m.
For more information or to sign up for the walk visit www.makingstrides.acsevents.org/chattanooga.