Statement as issued by the Great Lakes Division of the American Cancer Society:

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012) – Today nearly 5,000 residents of Northeast Indiana, including 246 breast cancer survivors, joined together at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk to help the Society do the most for people with breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow.

This noncompetitive event united the entire community to honor breast cancer survivors, educate people about how to reduce their breast cancer risk or find the disease early and raise funds to end breast cancer.

“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer unites us all to walk together as the most powerful force to end breast cancer,” said Tracy Smith, American Cancer Society specialist. “We are so thankful for how this community has pulled together to encourage everyone to change the course of breast cancer forever. Making Strides walkers and supporters can be proud that their efforts are helping 2.6 million breast cancer survivors living in the US celebrate another birthday this year.”

The money raised from Making Strides Against Breast Cancer helps the Society provide free resources and support to the one in two women newly diagnosed with breast cancer who turn to the American Cancer Society for help and support. Dollars raised also fund groundbreaking research to find, prevent, treat and cure breast cancer, as well as help the Society ensure access to mammograms for women who need them.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is just one way that the American Cancer Society saves lives and creates more birthdays in Fort Wayne. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 270 communities to fund the fight. This event also supports the American Cancer Society’s unique mission to fight breast cancer on all fronts and save lives by helping people stay well by reducing breast cancer risk or finding it early; helping people get well by providing information and support during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking breast cancer research and by fighting back by encouraging lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

Since 1993, more than 8 million walkers have raised more than $460 million through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. In 2011 alone, one million walkers across the country collected $60 million to save lives from breast cancer.

The American Cancer Society was joined by Kroger/Scott’s Foods & Pharmacy, Vera Bradley, Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fort Wayne Medical Oncology & Hematology, General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly/UAW, WLDE, 21 Alive/I Wear Pink, Fort Wayne Newspapers, Moms.FortWayne.com and Fort Wayne Monthly in taking a leadership position in the community’s fight against breast cancer.

It’s not too late to make a donation to the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event of Fort Wayne. Visit MakingStridesWalk.org/FortWayneIN to help the Society continue saving lives. For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.