More than likely, you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer. The disease will strike an estimated 192,370 women in the United States and claim about 40,000 lives in 2009. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women -- and the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. While we have made great progress in the fight against breast cancer, we still have miles to go. Women everywhere are fighting back -- one step at a time. Together with the American Cancer Society, you can fight breast cancer and save lives. Join the Making Strides movement to create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays.

About the event

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer^® unites communities across the nation each year to help save lives from breast cancer and provide hope to people facing the disease. All events take place on a weekend morning (rain or shine) and range in distance from 3 to 5 miles. People of all ages are welcome to participate and walk as far as they are able and take as long as they need to finish. Everyone who crosses the starting line is a winner, because participants are fighting back and helping save lives from breast cancer.

The first Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks took place in 1993 in New England. Since that time, events have spread from coast to coast, raising both dollars and awareness to fight the disease. Since 1993, nearly 6 million walkers have raised more than $400 million through Making Strides. In 2009 alone, nearly 700,000 walkers across the country collected $60 million to help fight breast cancer. There are more than 165 Making Strides events scheduled in 2009.

With each step you take in Making Strides, you're helping someone with breast cancer and you're helping save lives. More than the name of an event, Making Strides describes the progress we're making together to fight breast cancer. We help people stay well and reduce their risk of breast cancer or find it early by educating and empowering them to get mammograms and clinical breast exams and helping them to live healthy lifestyles. We help people facing breast cancer get well by guiding them through every step of the breast cancer experience with resources in their communities. We fund and conduct research to find cures, and have played a role in nearly every major cancer research breakthrough of the last century, leading to groundbreaking discoveries into cancer’s causes and cures. We fight back against breast cancer and have successfully fought for laws that increase access to mammograms and treatment and keep our families healthy.

Nothing can describe how it feels to unite with others who share your passion to put an end to breast cancer. Making Strides is a great reason to gather friends and recruit a team to join you in your lifesaving efforts.

Making a difference

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer keeps the important issue of breast cancer on the public agenda. Public policies, including those that provide access to quality health care and screening for all women, serve as a reminder to our politicians that we care about cancer and we vote! The event is also a reminder of the urgent need to increase research dollars, so that we may find a cure.

Research

Since 1971, the American Cancer Society has awarded approximately $388.4 million for breast cancer research grants.

Of the researchers chosen for American Cancer Society funding through the years, 44 have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Money raised through Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is directed to the most promising breast cancer research in local communities and nationwide.

Early detection

At the American Cancer Society, we know that detecting the disease early, at its most treatable stage, can make the difference between life and death. We provide guidelines, health care provider education, and raise awareness to increase screening for cancer. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer participants and donors help spread the word through their participation and support of the event.

Get involved

The best way to sign up is online at cancer.org/stridesonline. Once you sign up, you'll find easy-to-use tools to raise much-needed funds and to spread the word quickly to your friends and family to let them know about your involvement in Making Strides. You can personalize your own Web page, start a team in just minutes, and even fundraise through Facebook.

No matter how much you raise, every dollar saves lives. The more dollars you raise, the more lives we save. Just sign up and raise money online and/or bring cash and check donations with your registration form (located inside the walk paper brochure) on the morning of the event.

For more information on how to register, call 1-800-227-2345, visit cancer.org/stridesonline, or contact your local American Cancer Society office.

Thank you for helping us make a difference, make history, and make strides!

Last Medical Review: 09/02/2009
Last Revised: 12/15/2009