Awareness advocates and survivors plan to rally almost all day Saturday in front of the Capitol for what is expected to be the largest Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser event to come to Lansing.
The goal for this 8th annual walking event, which will start at the Capitol building and loop around the Lansing Hall of Justice, is to raise $230,000 this weekend — which is $30,000 more than last year, said Steve Konsdorf, American Cancer Society executive director for the greater Lansing area. The number of people signing up for teams and T-shirts indicated the event will probably attract about 3,000 participants, he said.
"We say (come) rain or shine, particularly because women dealing with breast cancer have it shine, rain, all the time," Konsdorf said. "We're asking for one morning to support women for the rest of their life."
Similar fundraising events are scheduled in 36 states across the nation. Nine events were scheduled in Michigan, three of which are planned for Saturday.
The event in Lansing has already raised about $77,000 as of Thursday afternoon. There are about eight teams that signed up for the event from MSU.
MSU's Mortar Board, an honor and service society for seniors, will have about 10 members participating in the event, group President Brittany Naber said.
"It's just a few hours of our time and it could potentially save lives," she said. "(Mortar Board members) can't obviously find a cure, but we can raise what we can."
Katie Lowden, Mason Hall mentor and interdisciplinary studies in social science and international studies senior, said she will be going with Mortar Board, but she is encouraging everyone on her floor to participate as well.
"For me, a lot of it has to do with the memory of my grandmother who had breast cancer," she said. "Part of it has to do with being a mentor — I want to do activities that will get people out of the building. Not only out of the dorm, but out into the Lansing community as well."
Donations for the cause will be accepted up to six months after the event. The funding is used for breast cancer research, education, cancer patient services, peer support groups and lobbying efforts.
Konsdorf said the American Cancer Society has contributed about $6 million toward cancer research at MSU over the past 25 years.
For those who can't participate in the walk, they can at least ask their mothers and other female family members older than 40 to get a mammogram, Konsdorf said.
"We desperately need the fundraiser, but it's also an awareness event," Konsdorf said. "We want to encourage people, whether you raise $1 or $10,000, to please come."
