Thousands Help Make Strides Against Breast Cancer At Wiregrass!

By Gary Nager

There’s no doubt that because so many women are diagnosed with and/or lose their lives to breast cancer every year, it is one of the forms of this most deadly of diseases that arouses the most passion of just about any illness.

So, no one should be surprised when those passions — and perfect weather — inspired between 5,000-6,000 people to participate in this year’s American Cancer Society (ACS) “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” of Pasco 5K walk on Oct. 25. The course sent thousands of pink-bra-wearing men and women walking between the Shops at Wiregrass mall and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC).

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ACS specialist for community events Jannah McDonald says that this year’s Making Strides of Pasco has raised about $195,000, including pledges and cash sponsorships, as 100+ breast cancer survivors and their caregivers were among the 1,700-1,800 registered participants, all of whom were joined by several thousand others for a great cause. The pics on this page do the “Pink Army” justice, but fall short of properly showing the amount of love that these folks have for those they’ve lost, those who still battle against breast cancer and those who hope never to be touched by it themselves.

Although I don’t have room to list all of the sponsors here, Jannah asked me to give a shout out to Xavier, the GM of Cantina Laredo at the Wiregrass Mall, which donated all of the food “and everything” for 200 people (survivors and caregivers) for the “Survivor Breakfast” served before the event, as well as the Parks Auto Group, for its $6,000  additional donation (over and above its “Silver” sponsorship) from a test drive event a couple of weeks before Making Strides of Pasco was held.

But, of course, we have to also thank Making Strides of Pasco’s “Pink Premier” Sponsor, Hyundai, Chevrolet & Mazda of Wesley Chapel and “Gold” Sponsors The Shops at Wiregrass, The Parilo Boys/Dane Parilo & Janice L. Delucenay.

For the complete sponsorship list and more info about Making Strides of Pasco, visit ACSEvents.org.