The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition held its second annual Heart in the Park Breast Cancer Awareness Walk on May 3 at Berlin Park.
Ahead of the walk, Robyn Reale, of the Berlin-based South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition Team, described it as a “community-wide event.”
“This event is to support breast cancer education and promote awareness through personalized events and campaigns using volunteer advocates,” she explained, “including major hospital research initiatives and access to care, along with preserving the laws that benefit breast cancer patients by raising funds for breast cancer.”
“The ‘force was strong’ with this community,” Reale said after the walk in a post on the coalition’s social media page. “Huge thanks to our incredible sponsors for powering our Heart in the Park Breast Cancer Walk. Because of your support, we’ve taken a giant leap toward defeating the dark side of this disease with awareness.
“We couldn’t have reached the finish line without your force behind us.”
The South Jersey Breast Cancer Coalition Team – formed in 1997 – was established by the Carolyn J. Ochs Memorial Client Assistance Fund, according to Reale.
“This fund helps patients who are undergoing breast cancer treatment financially,” she said.
To date, the fund has awarded more than $275,000 to grantees who’ve suffered financial hardships associated with or arising from their diagnosis or medical treatment. New Jersey ranks eighth in the nation for new cases of breast cancer and third for deaths from breast cancer, according to the coalition’s website.
There are 298,000 men and women in the state living with breast cancer. The coalition promotes breast health awareness throughout the state via personalized lecture services geared to the public and health-care providers, as well as committee members on a number of advocacy initiatives.
The coalition advocates legislation to support breast cancer research funding; eliminate health-care disparities; reduce barriers to quality health care; and empower the community with resources for patients, families and the public.
Over the years, coalition members have successfully lobbied for and implemented the Drive By Mastectomy Law, which requires insurers to pay for a two-day stay after a mastectomy, if needed. They successfully implemented a letter-writing campaign mandating public reporting of clinical trial outcomes and supported legislation targeting environmental links to breast cancer, as well as genetic non-discrimination.
The one-mile leisurely walk on May 3 made strides toward “hope, healing, and strength.” Participants walked alongside friends, families, survivors and supporters. Mayor Rick Miller opened the ceremony.
“We walk to honor survivors, support those in treatment and remember those we’ve lost,” Reale affirmed.
At the end of the walk, a closing hand-in-hand human heart was formed.
For more information, visit https://southjerseybcc.org.
At the end of the second annual Heart in the Park Breast Cancer Awareness event in Berlin, a closing hand-in-hand human heart was formed.
