Making Strides raises funds, awareness

The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides of Snohomish County will help raise funds for local breast cancer patients and research into the disease.

The event this year is on Oct. 27 in downtown Everett.

The national event from the American Cancer Society is meant to bring together breast cancer survivors and others to walk in a 5K and raise money.

“People like the event for the community and seeing everybody who came out to support the survivors,” said Hannah Sladek, community development manager with the American Cancer Society.

The event begins at the Snohomish County Campus Plaza at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.

There is a Zumba warm-up at 9:45 a.m. followed by a walk around the Snohomish County Campus to Colby Avenue and around Providence Hospital to complete a 5K.

Survivors can also join a breakfast with one guest before the event as well.

“This year we’re having a free survivor breakfast that is being hosted by the Everett Buzz Inn,” said Sladek.

“We’re inviting all the survivors to come down to this breakfast,” she said.

Sladek said that the breakfast is meant to help survivors meet with each other before the walk begins.

“We kind of want to spoil our survivors and let them know that we are walking for them,” she said.

The walk is also pet-friendly and dogs are welcome to come.

Last year’s Making Strides of Snohomish County raised about $110,000 for the American Cancer Society.

The national nonprofit organization uses those funds for programs and services, said Sladek, such as the Road to Recovery, which helps patients get transportation to their treatments.

“In case their spouse has to work or they don’t have a lot of family in the area and can’t get transportation to their hospital appointments,” she said.

Other programs like Hope Lodge provide hotel stays for those going through breast cancer treatment.

“If they have to travel really far for specialized treatment we can provide a night of lodging at a hotel,” said Sladek.

Sladek expects a lot of people at this year’s event.

“We’re expecting more people than we’ve ever had at the event,” she said, and they’re currently planning for more than 800 participants.

Making Strides of Snohomish County goes on even if it is raining, said Sladek.

“This is a rain or shine event so people should come ready for any weather,” she said. More information about Making Strides events, including the locally held event, is available at the American Cancer Society’s website at makingstrides.acsevents.org.