For the 30th year, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk was held in Central Park on Sunday.
“It feels so great. I feel like I get so much support from my I call them my family,” said Karlene Byfield, an 11-year breast cancer survivor.
The American Cancer Society is hosting the event to raise awareness, education and funds to fight the disease, which is the second most common cancer in women.
More than 300,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year.
On Sunday, 50,000 people were expected to take part in the walk, many with survival stories.
“When they cross the finish line, it means another year of being cancer-free or being here with their families,” said Austin Desavino, director of development for the American Cancer Society. 'And it's just a beautiful thing. And even for those we have lost, unfortunately their struggle does not end. We just wear it.”
Josue Galvez attended the event with his mother Marissa Galvez, who is also a survivor.
“The first couple of years where she was, you know, going through the whole process and the treatment. It was really hard to watch her, you know, suffer from the chemotherapy,” Galvez said. “Luckily I was always able to be there for her every day and do everything I could for her. And you know, now I'm really proud that I can call her a survivor, that I can spend every day with her.
According to the organization, the death rate from breast cancer fell by 42% between 1989 and 2019.
The event is one of many ways the organization is working to save more lives.
“The funds raised by the American Cancer Society help people now and generations to come,” Desavino said.
Since 1993, the American Cancer Society has invested more than $600 million in breast cancer research.
On Sunday, organizers expect to raise $1.6 million by the end of the day.
