MERRILLVILLE | A total of 2,600 residents of Northwest Indiana, including 102 breast cancer survivors, joined together at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer®5Kwalk last month to fight breast cancer and provide hope to all people facing the disease.

This noncompetitive event Oct. 11 united the entire community to honor and celebrate breast cancer survivors, educate women about prevention and early detection and raise money to fund lifesaving research and support programs to help eliminate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Walkers raised $195,000 for the cause.

This year, Northwest Indiana's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event was one of more than 140 held across the country. The American Cancer Society uses the dollars raised through Making Strides events to fund cutting-edge research leading to the discovery of lifesaving treatments, advocate for all women to have access to mammograms and treatments - regardless of income - and to provide free programs and services that improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families in more than 3,400 communities across the country.

"Almost everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way," said Sue Tracy, area executive director, American Cancer Society. "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer gives us the chance to celebrate those who have survived breast cancer and help ensure that future generations are not faced with this life-threatening disease. Making Strides truly demonstrates that hope starts with each and every one of us."

For the last 10 years, Making Strides has been a part of Northwest Indiana and has raised nearly $1.2 million for breast cancer research and services.

Sponsors of this year's Making Strides event include: U.S. Steel, Centier Bank, Radio One Communications and Lakeshore Public Television. Visit www.cancer.org/stridesonline to help the Society continue making strides and saving lives. For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org

- For The Times