WAYNETOWN — In light of the canceled Breast Cancer Walk in Indianapolis due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), a small group from Waynetown decided to form their own march Monday.
Personally touched by the disease, which affects 1 in 8 women, Christa Dinius, 11-year-old granddaughter Brylee Dinius and neighbor Nancy Gregg created a sign and walked throughout Waynetown on Monday.
“My Aunt Sherry had breast cancer and I just wanted to make a difference,” Brylee Dinius said.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sponsored each year by the National Breast Cancer Foundation and others. Around 13% of women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives, per the American Cancer Society.
According to ACS, more than 41,000 deaths related to the disease were reported in 2019, and Cancer Treatment Centers of America shows survival rates of those diagnosed decline sharply over time — from 94% over six months to just 24% over five years.
But it isn’t just breast cancer that has such a profound effect on daily life, Christa Dinius said. Nearly everyone has been affected by cancer in some shape or form.
“We’re walking for Breast Cancer Awareness or for anyone, actually, who has ever had cancer,” she said. “My mother ... has breast cancer and she is in remission — will be six years next month.
“We’re out here praying that anybody who has been through this is health and strong and still going.”
Gregg said she has also been personally affected by the wide-ranging disease with the loss of her son.
“He was only 42,” she said. “So I kind of feel like people need to do things like this.”
To support Breast Cancer Awareness and help combat cancer of all forms, visit www.cancer.org to make a donation to ACS.
Those interested may also provide donations and volunteer work through a number of other organizations, such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.nationalbreastcancer.org), www.breastcancer.org or Pink Fund (www.pinkfund.org).
