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A step for breast cancer awareness
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Posted on Oct 29 2008
Hundreds of people marched down Beach Road carrying candles yesterday, hoping to raise awareness about breast cancer.
The candlelight vigil walk is in conjunction with October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“This is what it is doing. It’s raising awareness,” said Lynn Tenorio, deputy secretary for Public Health. “It’s incredible the amount of people here. The fact that people are willing to do this on a Wednesday night, to give up their time, indicates the amount of support.”
Maggie Camacho, a four-year breast cancer survivor, said educating the public about prevention is key.
“It’s an awareness program to let the public know, to educate them in the knowledge of prevention of cancer,” she said, adding that early screening is important.
Camacho discovered her cancer during her regular mammogram check-up. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation.
The cancer diagnosis not only affected her, but her family as well.
“We had to change our lifestyle and re-evaluate our values in life,” she said. “Family support is really important, even community support is important.”
The candlelight walk is a perfect example of the community support, she added.
Students from schools, including Kagman Elementary and Grace Christian Academy, were on hand to show their support, and various health agencies set up exhibits at Oleai Beach Pavilion with information about breast cancer and other health-related issues.
