Breast Cancer walk promotes awareness

This week has been a rough one for Bloomington resident Linda Gardino. The mother of two learned that both her mother and sister have been diagnosed with breast cancer.\n"I'm kind of mad right now at cancer," she said. "It scares me, because my sister is younger than I am, and what if I have it right now?"\nHer worries are shared by many people across the globe. According to the Center fior Disease Control, about 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Causes include genetics, increase in age and giving birth after the age of 30; in many cases, the actual cause of cancer isn't known. Last year, there were an estimated 192, 200 cases in the U.S. and roughly 40,200 deaths. And although it is very rare, 1,500 cases of breast cancer were found in men.\nThis Saturday, Bloomington residents can help to raise awareness of breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Awareness Walk will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7 at City Hall. It is free, and donations will be accepted. Those who partake will walk just over a mile, and the first 1,000 people to arrive will receive a free T-shirt.\n"Most walks are fund-raisers, but this is just for fun and to raise awareness," said Melody Martin, a survivor of breast cancer and chairman of the organizing committee. "People are so afraid to even talk about breast cancer. If they do early detection, it can save their lives." \nThe Breast Cancer Awareness Walk has helped raise awareness in the community. \n"Five years ago there were 150 people at the walk, and last year there were nearly 1,000," Martin said. "It just keeps getting bigger and bigger."\nLast year the walk raised $5,000 in donations. The donations go to the Girlfriend fund run by the Olcott Center. \n"The Girlfriend fund is to help women going through breast cancer with financial problems pay for their treatments," said Irene Somes, the manager of the breast cancer program at the Olcott Center. "Last year there was lots of enthusiasm, and we hope that happens again this year."\nAs Gardino prepares to take part in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, she said she has some advice for those who know someone suffering from Breast Cancer. \n"Keep a positive outlook on life," she said. "Live each day to its fullest." \nTo participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness walk, fill out a registration form at City Hall, or print one off of the Internet. The Web site is http://www.siraonline.com/walk.htm.