Public Employee Press

Members march for breast cancer cure

Some 25,000 New Yorkers got up early Sunday, Oct. 16 and joined in the American Cancer Society’s annual “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Walkathon. On the cool, crisp autumn day, armies of high school student volunteers, ironworkers from Local 580, a trumpet player from the Police Dept. band with his wife and daughters, and hundreds of DC 37 members spread out across the leaf-strewn lawns of Central Park and other city sites.

Breast cancer survivors in search of a cure, many with kerchiefs covering their bald heads, wore pink sweatshirts as they walked the five-mile route. This year’s theme was “Hope starts here.”

Pauline Jones, a 35-year member of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549, came with others from her local in a special T-shirt they prepared for the occasion.

“Ms. Jones is a recent survivor of breast cancer,” said Executive Vice President Lenora Gates. “She inspired us to complete the walk.”

Laborers Local 924 members wore T-shirts calling themselves “The Jackie Catala Team.” They walked in memory of Council Rep David Catala’s wife Jackie, who succumbed to the disease last year after a long and valiant battle. The team included union members, family members, Local President Kyle Simmons and Secretary Joseph Time.

Personal connections
This was Time’s second walk “It’s important to help out. I have a wife and a sister too,” he said.
Typically, a personal connection moves people to put on their sneakers and walk for the cause and to raise money for research. Public Health Advisor Sarah McKnight lost her mother to breast cancer in 1981. Now her sister Yvette is fighting the disease. “I’ve seen what they went through and I’ll do anything I can to help,” she said.

As a health professional, she stresses the importance of preventive techniques. The eight McKnight sisters all get annual mammograms, and on Oct. 16 she wore a big button that said “Uninsured? Ask me about a free mammogram or a Pap test.”

Police Communications Technician Sylvia Lewis organized 30 of the city’s 911 operators to raise money by walking in Prospect Park, said Chapter Chair Alma Roper. “We have lots of survivors in our chapter. They walked with us,” she said. “My aunt died of breast cancer and every year, I walk in her memory.” Gloria Acevedo, president of United Federation of Nurses & Epidemiologists Local 436, chairs the DC 37 Health and Wellness Committee, which organized the union’s participation in the walkathon.

“This is not just a women’s issue,” said the Public Health Nurse. “Men get breast cancer, too, and they are affected when their family members get the disease.” “More of our members should participate,” said David Catala, who spoke from bitter experience.

Breast cancer left a hole in his family, at the center where his wife and the children’s mother used to be. He and his children will be out there again next year. They and many others who have suffered a devastating loss will be counting on you to be there too.

— Jane LaTour