Monday October 16, 2017

POINT PLEASANT BEACH NEW JERSEY: Sunday, October 15, 2017, Making Strides with the American Cancer Society held its annual ‘celebration of life’ walk for Breast Cancer Awareness at Ocean and Arnold Avenues in Point Pleasant Beach NJ.

With the sun shining and the warm weather keeping walkers smiling, registration began at 8 A.M. and survivors were welcomed with one other guest of their choice to the Survivor Tent to enjoy a buffet style breakfast including easy-to-eat meals of granola bars, bagels, muffins, bananas, and other light refreshments.

The lively entertainment provided by A & S Sounds drew crowds that gathered in front of the stage as early as 7:30 A.M. to dance to mixes of modern songs and ones of encouragement. Dancers and performers opened up the walk as guests made their way to the ‘Start’ balloon archway at 10 A.M. to begin their short 3 miles on the boardwalk and throughout the town around Jenkinson’s.

Photographers, drones, and news trucks were lined up throughout the walk, capturing the events as they happened. Thousands of people of all ages, and some with their pets, made way through the walk for the cause encouraging and spreading awareness for the terrible disease.

The walk finished with its last people at around 12 o’clock noon, and as guests finished up, volunteers from the organization and the tri-state area handed out water bottles, snacks, and small tokens of appreciation.

Pacesetters earned as much as $16 thousand in 2016 for the Point Pleasant area, and it is to be expected that the outcome of 2017 is just as successful, if not greater. Walkers can sign up to be Pacesetters on the American Cancer Society’s website.

Mary Jo Lombardo, a Pacesetter since 2006 with her team Pizza Nite Girls, earned a total pool of donations just short of $1,000 within only two week’s time this year, claiming it to be “one of her lowest donations.” With this much being her lowest amount, she is an inspiration to others to support a cause they care for, knowing any amount is not too big nor too small.

The 2017 Making Strides Walk for Breast Cancer of Point Pleasant showed to be a success with the outstanding turnout of guests and money raised from families, friends, and peers coming together to support the same cause.