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Locals raise funds in breast cancer walkathon of American Cancer Society

On Oct. 18, members of DC 37 locals showed their commitment to raising awareness of breast cancer and defeating the disease by joining in the American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides walkathon.

This year more than 40,000 women and 400 men will lose their lives to the disease. One woman in every 10 diagnosed with breast cancer is under 45.

Hospital Employees Local 420 invited members “to join us in making a difference.” Team 420 walked and raised $3,000, and members of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 braved the chilly Sunday’s downpour. “I’ve been pleased with the participation of young people, and I believe in educating them about getting their mammograms,” said five-year cancer survivor Pauline Jones, vice chair of the local’s Law Dept. Chapter.

Eight members of Health Services Local 768 from the Health Dept. participated and collected $3,260 for the cause; the agency’s Quality of Work Life Committee was a sponsor.

“I come every year. This is near and dear to me since I have lost family members to the disease,” said QWL Labor Co-chair Anna Marie Berry, a Local 768 shop steward.

In 2008, her father died of cancer. “We didn’t know he had it until he was in stage 3. It’s so important for women and men to get checked.”

www.sharecancersupport.org is a new Web site with helpful information about breast cancer and the support that is available.