HUD Employees Take to the Streets

HUD Employees and Friends Team

Finlay Park in Columbia makes room for walkers

The Group Kjoliba Don provided entertainment after the walk

The Columbia Field Office participated in the annual breast cancer walk held on Saturday, October 4, 2003. Columbia's downtown Finlay Park was the starting point for more than 9,500 walkers on a cool October morning. After several minutes of warm-up exercises, the whistle blew beginning the three-mile walk to raise awareness and support for the fight against breast cancer. Survivors wore pink bandannas or pink caps and many of the walkers carried pink balloons.

The walk honors those who are survivors and remembers those who have lost their battle to breast cancer. Breast cancer affects women and men, but one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease by age 60. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 3,400 new cases of breast cancer in South Carolina this year and 600 South Carolinians will die of the disease. Because breast cancer is more likely to be cured when caught early, screening for the disease is crucial. Annual screening mammograms are an important part of early detection.

More than $200,000 has been donated for this year's walk. Proceeds from the walk are used for awareness, education, patient and family support and research. Each year thousands of pieces of educational material are distributed to patients containing information beneficial to the patient and their family. Breast Bears are presented to patients after surgery. Shower cards for breast self-examinations, calendars to use daily and to keep track of breast self-exam, and "Steps Against Breast Cancer" brochures are also distributed.

Forty-eight employees and friends joined the" HUD Employees & Friends" Team and raised a total of $1,200. Several employees have been a part of the "Walk for Life" HUD Team for the past eight years.