Walking to end breast cancer

Well, breast cancer survivors, families and supporters all came together at Raymond James Stadium this morning for the American Cancer Society's making strides against breast cancer walk. Now the event brings the community all together to honor survivors. Remember loved ones and raise money for research. FOX 13's Heather Healey has more. A sea of pink took over Raymond James Stadium this morning with every person carrying a different story, but all walking toward the same goal. A future without breast cancer was diagnosed at the age of 36 with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma and I went through 16 rounds of chemo several surgeries and got great treatment great doctors and luckily I'm here today to tell my story and made it through and doing great it's the American Cancer Society annual making strides against breast cancer walk raising money for research in patient support our goal was $2,500 and I did this campaign with my college-aged daughter and we raised almost $13,000 for the cause together. Anything we can do to help fight and raise to find treatment and services and doctors for women that are battling this disease you know I'm all in on something like that. And doctors say early detection remains an important part of this fight. That's the key we would much rather take care of somebody with a stage one cancer or even a stage zero cancer and the other really important thing is to know your family history. We just recently developed a high-risk clinic at BayCare where you can scan a little QR code and be evaluated for for high risk and you know those patients if they have genetic mutations you know we want to get them screened earlier. And for our very own Linda Hurtado this event is personal being a survivor herself and serving as today's MC. Well my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was away at college many many years ten years ago yeah and the American Cancer Society was the organization where that helped her where I think she felt like she found her family then when I was diagnosed decades later they kind of became a place for me but before I was diagnosed I was an advocate for the programs because I've seen firsthand how they help every step taken here today is a reminder of the strength of this community and its commitment to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. You feel the authenticity of the love here and that's my favorite thing. In Tampa, Heather Healy, Fox 13 News. Thanks Heather and it was also a sea of pink at Nathan Benderson Park as a massive crowd showed their support for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Now much like the Tampa Walk supporters there came out to celebrate survivors, thrivers and also to remember those who lost their battle. Now Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute was the presenting sponsor and they're working to bring the latest treatment to the area to residents so they don't have to travel far for treatment. Now the largest team had more than 100 participants from Cardinal Mooney High School and everyone came together for one goal. This is so important. I got emotional looking around at everybody. Nobody knows what it's like until you go through it and everybody feels like they understand here and it's so important for us to know that research is getting you know there's new medications i'm on one of these new medications that has the side effects and stuff but it's trying to prevent recurrence that you know so much good stuff out there but we got to keep raising money now Fox 13's Kimberly Quizon was one of the MCs for this event today the walk raised more than 475,000 and the fundraising of course continues well after the walk Thank you.