Corning, N.Y. —
Hundreds of people crowded Centerway Square Sunday to make strides against breast cancer.
The second annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk brought young and old to Corning’s Gaffer Dis-trict, each eager to play their part in eradicating the dreadful disease.
Louise McIntosh, of the American Cancer Society, said the turnout for Sunday’s event by far surpassed the inaugural event.
She said 74 teams signed up for Sunday’s event, eclipsing the 600 people who participated in 2010.
McIntosh could not give exact numbers because people were registering right up until the start of the walk.
McIntosh said the community rallies around events having to do with breast cancer.
“Community support is absolutely amazing and always has been,” McIntosh said. “Everybody knows somebody who has had breast cancer.”
Mallorey Austin was a member of one of the teams at Sunday’s event. She said several team members had family or friends who were affected by breast cancer.
“It’s way too common,” Austin said. “It was staggering to see so many people wearing ‘Survivor’ T-shirts.”
Austin’s team raised $250 from family and friends. She said the team made use of Face-book and other social media to raise funds.
The team from Corning Dental Associates raised $5,000, including $1,100 they raised through bake sales.
Team members also solicited gift certificates from local businesses to raffle off.
McIntosh said last year’s event raised $32,000. She said the funds were used for education and research and that all the money stays in the communities in which it was raised.
She said that in Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler counties, the American Cancer Society has purchased more than 100 wigs for those who have lost their hair while undergoing treatments for cancer.
McIntosh said in Steuben County alone the organization has paid for 38 people to stay in Hope Lodge, which houses the families of those undergoing cancer treatment.