Snowbird shows support with 3K walk
Snowbird – Among the cloudy and cold Monday morning, raindrops fell on pink signs along the road where 100 people walked a mile and a half to shine a light on breast cancer awareness.
“I didn’t realize at the time how important support from friends, family, people in the community was. Just everyone’s been good to me,” said Lou Jackson, breast cancer survivor.
The 10th Annual 3k Breast Cancer Walk was reduced down to 1 1/2 miles because of rain and the location was changed to the Snowbird Jacob Cornsilk Complex, so vendors could comfortably be inside.
Snowbird Community Health RN Provider Jennifer Wachacha started the breast-cancer walk event because she was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2011.
“My doctor told me if I hadn’t had a mammogram, I would have been in trouble,” said Wachacha.
Wachacha’s doctor found a lump in her breast that was undetectable to Wachacha herself. If she had felt the lump before the mammogram, her chances of survival would be slim.
Luckily, the lump was removed and Wachacha received six chemotherapy treatments every three weeks and 39 radiation treatments. She is now cancer free.
Wachacha explained that the event is meant to raise awareness for women to get mammograms, starting at 40 years old and take care of their health.
The awareness is for everyone, since men can also develop breast cancer.
The event is funded by community donations and volunteers help with the event.
After the walk-up and down Cornsilk Branch Road, the participants went into the complex to get services and goodies from vendors.
Tsalagi Public Health gave free flu and shots, while other booths gave out free health-related items like first-aid kits, step trackers and informational brochures.
Community members also participated in a friendship dance led by Bo Taylor. Jackson also spoke about being a breast cancer survivor and how important support is. She too was diagnosed from a mammogram.