QUINCY, ILL. -- Downtown Quincy was flooded with pink Saturday as hundreds of people hit the streets for the fifth annual Pink Pass it On Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.
At this rate, one in eight women will get diagnosed with breast cancer in her life. While it's rare for men, they too, can get breast cancer. Walks like this are taking strides to bring awareness to breast cancer and to find a cure.
Around 300 people gathered in Washington Park for the walk. Funds raised at the event will support the financial assistance program at the Blessing Breast Center. The programs helps provide mammograms to women who otherwise couldn't afford them.
"Mammograms are so important and my mammogram yearly saved my life, because I had such a small tumor they wouldn't have known it. So mammograms are the answer," said Peggy Wieseman, a breast cancer survivor.
The skies exploded in pink as balloons were released into the air to spread awareness. Many balloons honored breast cancer victims with special cards attached.
"An event like this today just raises awareness for everyone, because more than likely everyone that is here today has been affected by breast cancer in some way," said Lori Wilkey, the manager of Blessing Breast Center.
The Blessing Breast Center has given out more than $156,000 in free breast cancer screenings. For more information, please call your area health department. Free pap smears can also be arranged.
Brown County Health Department: (217) 773-2714
Pike County (IL) Health Department: (217) 285-4407
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