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Vol. 72 No. 44
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This weekend, focus will be on mental health press, the event had so far raised over $377,000. “Half of what we raise stays Thousands of Long Island- right here on Long Island, and ers are expected to gather at we are able to use that money to Jones Beach on Oct. 27 for the give free educational mental American Foundation for Sui- health awareness and suicide prevention programs in comcide Prevention’s annual Out of the Darkness Community groups, in munity Walk — a schools (and) in corgrowing event raisp o r a t i o n s, ” A n n ing awareness and Morrison-Pacella, reducing the stigma the Long Island around mental chapter’s executive health, while supdirector, said. “It porting survivors also allows us to of suicide loss. fund the initiatives The foundation, that we do for suiwith chapters in all cide loss survivors.” 50 states, organizes The remaining more than 400 half goes toward walks in September ANN MoRRiSoNnational services, and October and including research holds the interna- PACEllA g r a n t s, d eve l o p tional survivor of Executive director ment of new pros u i c i d e l o s s d ay Long Island chapter, grams and advocacy every November to American Foundation efforts across the increase awareness. for Suicide Prevention country, according Fo r t h e L o n g to Morrison-PacelIsland chapter, the la. Jones Beach walk has grown The Long Island walk first throughout the last decade, took place in Westbury Gardens expecting more than 3,000 par- in 2007, which could not handle ticipants for this year’s event. the large number of particiThe walk is also one of the top pants, so the event was brought three fundraisers held by the to Jones Beach a few years foundation, which hopes to later, with its access to ample raise a minimum of $575,000 this year. As the Herald went to ConTinued on PAge 5
By Josie Racette
Intern
W
Michael Rechter/Herald
Thousands gathered at Jones Beach State Park last Sunday to take part in the American Cancer Society’s Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
Hoping to end breast cancer
Thousands gather at Jones Beach for annual Strides walk By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Thousands gathered at Jones Beach State Park last Sunday to take part in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, which aimed to raise awareness of the disease and raise funds for breast cancer research. The event marked its 31st year, and participants made their way west on the park’s boardwalk, adorned in pink. The event, sponsored by Teachers Federal Credit Union, is one of the largest fundraisers organized by the American Cancer Society, a nationwide organization that is dedicated to eliminating cancer and improving the lives of those affected by it. According to Liz Wellinghorst, director of
regional integrated marketing for the society’s northeast region, park officials and police estimated that around 77,000 attendees took part in the event, and matched last year’s total of around $2.3 million in funds raised. “This event was brought about so that people who have an affinity for the issue of breast cancer can have the opportunity to get together and raise awareness and celebrate their own cancer journeys,” Katie Goepfrich-Schafer, executive director of the society’s Long Island chapter, said. The money walkers raised will help fund the society’s research programs and patientsupport services, which include transportation programs and Hope Lodge communiConTinued on PAge 10
e want people to come to the walk and know that they are not alone.