Some local breast cancer survivors are asking for your help keeping efforts to fight the disease, close to home.
For the past five years, Bedford area residents have walked in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in their own community. But this year, the American Cancer Society decided to consolidate its fundraising operation and support only the Altoona walk.
However, organizers of the Bedford event say it will go on.
Nicole Abbott consulted Dr Kathy Erlichman about nine years ago, for help with painful swelling in her arm related to breast cancer surgery.
Kathy established a clinic at UPMC Bedford Memorial to treat the condition called lymphadema, after her first bout with breast cancer.
She says, “I’m 58 years old and 20 years of those 58 years were battling breast cancer or trying to support people that have breast cancer.”
And Nicole adds, “I’m a 15 year survivor this year and I’m doing great. I just had my mammogram and everything was fine, feeling great.”
The two women were founding members of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer committee in Bedford County, six years ago. Now, with the cancer society’s decision to discontinue that event, they’re organizing its successor, the Bedford County Pink Ribbon Fund Walk.
“It’s very important,” Nicole says. “I have a daughter that is 26 years old now and this walk means everything to me. This walk means that hopefully, someday, there’ll be a cure for her and she’ll never have to hear the words that I heard.”
Members of the Pink Ribbon group say their independent organization will have more of a grassroots feel. If someone needs helping paying for a mammogram, medication, or transportation, funds can be allocated for those purposes.
“One in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and that goes for Bedford County as well .And Bedford County is Mayberry RFD, if you remember that show, but we take care of each other,” Kathy says.
The Bedford County Pink Ribbon Walk will step out on Saturday, October 21 at the Bedford Middle School.
They’d love to have you.