Media Credit: Photo by Melissa Blakely Survivors of breat cancer show their pride by hiking from University Mall to Cordova Mall Oct. 8. [Click to enlarge]

Patrisha Posey,Bonnie Craft, and Danielle Craft walk in the Oct. 8 breast cancer walk. [Click to enlarge]

Hundreds marched through a pink and white balloon arch at University Mall heading for the streets of Pensacola Oct. 8. Almost every person sported a pink ribbon symbolizing their commitment to help fight breast cancer.

The marchers were a part of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the third- annual noncompetitive 5K walk to raise awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. All funds raised will support the American Cancer Society breast cancer research, education, advocacy and patient service programs.

Teams and individuals donated their time and money for the cause. Volunteers and breast cancer survivors walked in teams of friends, families or co-workers.

Members representing businesses such as Baptist Hospital, Emerald Coast Smile by Design, Gulf Power Co., the U.S. Marines and church organizations participated in the walk.

 "There's no better feeling than to be with a group of people who have one common goal," said Angela Byers, research associate for the research and sponsor program.

The marchers, some walking in groups with matching T-shirts and others as couples, started the three-mile trek down Creighton Road toward Cordova Mall.

 "A number of friends and relatives have had to go through the tragedy of breast cancer," said Mardi McDaniel, University of West Florida team captain. "We're like secondary survivors. We're trying to support them through it," she said.

There were several other teams participating in the event from UWF as well.

"We - chose breast cancer to be one of our main philanthropies, so this is our way of supporting and showing Alpha Kappa Alpha is in support of breast cancer," said Rachel Roberts, president of UWF Beta Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

As the crowd turned right onto Lanier Drive, survivors of breast cancer walked with confidence and comfort in knowing they would continue to survive.

 Like most of the breast cancer survivors marching, Rebecca Carter, 31, wore a pink T-shirt that read "survivor" on the back.

"I'm a little less than a month out of treatment, so I'm doing it for other people to know how well survivors can do and also for other women who might be diagnosed so they know they don't have anything to fear," Carter said.

Cheers of "we're almost there" could be heard throughout the crowd as they crossed Underwood Avenue to Ninth Avenue.

Judith Beasley, 60, of Milton has been a survivor of breast cancer since 1989.

"I want to support the effort to raise money to find cures and provisions for breast cancer," she said. "I have a daughter and a granddaughter, and I don't want either of them to face it."

As the mass of marchers approached Airport Boulevard, cars honked, and the crowd cheered and waved.

Although most people were just walking, some pulled wagons or pushed strollers with their children like Summer Graham, 27, and her 1 1/2-year-old son.

"Year before last, I was seven months pregnant walking with him, so I thought I'd make it a tradition," Graham said.

There were cheers of excitement as walkers approached the finish line on the Parisian side of the Cordova Mall. Some even mustered up enough strength to jog to the finish line after the three-mile walk.

Survivors were greeted with a small gift, and water bottles and snacks awaited all the walkers after the success of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

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