Teams of walkers are encouraged to sign up to raise imperative funds for local women without access to breast cancer services and treatment.
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia – The National Breast Center Foundation (NBCFoundation) is pleased to announce its Eighth Annual Walk to Bust Cancer will take place at Fort Hunt Park, Alexandria, VA on Sunday October 15th.
The walk begins at 8:45am with pre-walk activities starting at 7:30am. The event was created by the Alexandria-based Foundation to raise funds to remove barriers that prevent women from getting proper screening, diagnosis, and education about breast cancer. Teams of walkers can sign up (www.walktobustcancer.org) for a friendly competition to raise funds for the life-saving services and honor those affected by breast cancer. An uplifting and family-friendly event, the walk will include a DJ, mindful meditation, and exercise warm-ups and cooldowns. Photo opportunities with the Foundation’s well-known “Mary’s Wings,” a large pair of angel wings honoring long-time Foundation supporter Mary Edwards, are also available. Edwards passed away from metastatic breast cancer in January of 2022.
New this year will be the poignant and symbolic “Circle of Strength,” where breast cancer warriors and survivors will be surrounded and supported by family and friends and captured from above in an aerial photo.
With a high incidence and mortality rate in the DC metropolitan area*, breast cancer is also one of the most expensive cancers to treat.** For many in the DC area, life-saving treatment and services are hard to access and afford. “Our goal and mission is to raise funds for those in need, as well as unite and support those battling breast cancer, survivors and their support networks,” said Martha Carucci, executive director of the NBCF. NBCFoundation founder and local breast surgeon Dr. David Weintritt is the impetus behind the effort. Being witness to the alarming amount of local women in vital need of screening, diagnostic tests, and treatments but with no access due to lack of insurance, high costs or limited access to facilities drove his efforts.
“Without getting the preventative care they need, they increase the risk of later stage detection and decreased survival rates,” said Weintritt. Noting that this is a global problem, he notes that NBCF is committed to focusing “right here in our community to impact the lives of women and families who are our neighbors.”
To date, NBCF has assisted over 200 women with more than 400 completed screenings, diagnostic exams, and procedures since it was founded in 2015. It has also created an extensive network of strategic referral partnerships with other community organizations as well as overhauled, fast-tracked, and simplified a tedious and inefficient system to help coordinate access to services. These efforts help expedite necessary additional diagnostic testing, treatment, and even surgical care, eliminating wait times that can stretch into months.
For more information about the walk, please go to www.walktobustcancer.org or email info@walktobustcancer.org.