| WHAT: | More than 12,000 local breast cancer survivors, volunteers, business and community members will unite to fight breast cancer and save lives at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk in Richmond.This noncompetitive, inspirational event raises funds to fight breast cancer and provides hope to all people facing the disease.The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 6,000 women in Virginia will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. One in two of these women will turn to the American Cancer Society for help. Funds raised through Making Strides help the Society save lives by helping people take steps to prevent cancer or find it early; by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by investing in groundbreaking research; and by encouraging lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer will be asked to take another step; the American Cancer Society will ask them to register at the event for its Cancer Prevention Study (CPS-3). The organization is recruiting more than 800 area residents to participate in the historic study that is expected to help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. Enrollment in the study will take place at various locations in Richmond during the week of November 13-17, 2012. Walk participants are asked to register online at the event, or anytime, at cps3richmond.org so that the Society can prepare for the enrollment sites in November. |
| WHO: | Local cancer survivors, participants and American Cancer Society staff and volunteers will be on-hand for interviews. |
| WHEN: | Sunday, October 21, 2012 Registration begins at 12:30 PM Walk starts at 1:30 PM |
| WHERE: | Kanawha Plaza (9th & Canal Sts., Richmond) |
| ONSITE CONTACT: | Dawn Ward, (410) 967-8241 |
About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org. For cancer news in your community, visit sacancernews.org.
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