As an activist in Dept. of Education Employees Local 372, Sallie Robertson knows how to organize. As a cancer survivor, she’s committed to organizing support for the annual “Making Strides Again Breast Cancer Walkathon.”

Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Central Park walk will be on Sunday, Oct. 19 this year. As DC 37’s top fundraiser in 2002, Ms. Robertson raised over $11,000.”I’m going for $15,000 this year,” she said. Aurea A. Mangual, an SSEU Local 371 Executive Board member, is another dedicated organizer for the walk. “I am asking co-workers at the Bronx Borough President’s office and people in my neighborhood to walk,” she said. “It’s important that women have the awareness so that they go for their annual checkups.”

Awareness and prevention are important goals of the walkathon. As a survivor of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, Sallie Robertson embodies the importance of early detection.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women. But their rate of newly diagnosed cases is about 13% lower than in white women. Breast cancer is also the most frequent cancer among Hispanic women. And it is more often diagnosed at a later stage than in non-Hispanic women.

David Catala, a DC 37 Rep in the Blue Collar Division, will be walking with his son David, 16. The family has walked together every year since Mr. Catala’s wife, Jackie, was diagnosed with breast cancer. “The American Cancer Society has helped me — they’ve helped my wife,” he said.

Sallie Robertson observed, “I may not be around, but someday there’s going to be a cure for it. Whatever we can contribute to this effort, it all helps.” Speaking from experience, Mr. Catala said, “It’s a great thing that DC 37 has gotten involved with something that is so important to women.”

Members who would like to participate should call Michelle Keller, chair of the DC 37 Health and Nutrition Committee at 212-815-1375. For more information, you can visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline.