Thousands Make Strides Against Breast Cancer In Annual Walk

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- One leg in front of the other--it's how thousands of breast cancer survivors continued the fight against the disease this weekend.

Gigi Barnett reports it's the American Cancer Society's largest fundraiser.

A sea of pink covered the lawn at the YMCA/Stadium Place in Baltimore. Pink tutus, pom-poms and sashes all applaud breast cancer survivors and their supporters in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk this weekend.

"It's a beast, and I want to do everything I can to help beat it," said two-year survivor Elaine Ezell.

The disease runs in Ezell's family, and she attends the walk to make sure future generations can beat cancer and to thank the women who came before.

"One of the things that I dreaded in going through chemo was nausea. You know what, I didn't have to because there were women out there before me who did research," said Ezell.

The American Cancer Society is the largest funder of cancer research, second only to the federal government.

The Baltimore walk was emceed by WJZ's own  Jessica Kartalija. It's one of more than 300 this year.

"But beyond that, we also have support services for patients and their caregivers who have been touched by this disease to help them get through their cancer diagnosis," said walk spokeswoman Cathryn Burby.

Nationwide, more than 230,000 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year; 4,700 of them are in Maryland.

More than 5,000 people participated in the walk. WJZ is a proud co-sponsor as part of our Continuing Community Commitment.

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