My intense passion to support my friend, diagnosed with breast cancer at 29, was at the beginning of my experience, along with the unwelcome surprise of not seeing more men at my first Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, back in 1997.
I was struck by the lack of husbands, brothers, sons, friends and colleagues not there to support the women. I vowed to come back and to bring the men.
Cancer affects not only the person diagnosed but also all the people in their lives who love them, work with them, appreciate them and need them.
What I have learned over the years is that Making Strides gives important support to cancer patients, and it also gives the people in their lives an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Both fundraising for the American Cancer Society and showing up to support those just diagnosed, in the midst of treatment or celebrating years of survivorship, is significant.
I believe in the mission of The American Cancer Society. Our vision is to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our mission is to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat and survive cancer.
By the way, we did get the men. Today, Making Strides is husbands loving their wives, brothers appreciating their sisters, sons coming to terms with the fragility of their moms’ lives, and co-workers standing shoulder to shoulder, showing their support.
We got the men. I am proud.
Our work is not done. Step forward and join us.
Kathi Russ is a volunteer with the American Cancer Society and an organizer of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.