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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer set for Oct. 11

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Courtesy photo The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Committee includes (from left): front row –– Evan Stiffler (baby) with Alicia Stiffler, Jessica King 2026 Ambassador, Alissa Smitha, Sharon Okeiff Fusco (ACS staff), Linda Hinton, Linda Mahoney, Joyce Farabaugh, Lori Wiley, Amy Wiley and Jill Lase; second row –– Becky Rhodes, Rabbi Audrey Korotkin, Bethany Neff, Jeanette Bender, Sandy Pritts, Helen Silviera, Theresa Belicic, Angela Crawford and Kelly Deely (chairperson). Absent from the photo are Michelle Day, Jill Reigh, Ciera Kauffman, Janet Cichetta, Valenciya Wiley and Laura Deely-Marshall.

Committee invites public to donate, walk

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Central PA will take place on Sunday, Oct. 11, at Peoples Natural Gas Field, providing a supportive community for breast cancer survivors and metastatic breast cancer thrivers, caregivers, supporters and families alike.

Across the country, participants will join 930,000 participants representing 31,000 teams.

Making Strides is the nation's leading breast cancer movement, uniting communities to help end breast cancer as we know it.

Over the past two decades, Strides 3-to-5-mile walks have collectively grown into the nation's largest and most impactful breast cancer movement; celebrating survivors and thrivers, bringing people together to help end cancer as we know it.

Making Strides against Breast Cancer funds lifesaving breast cancer research and is committed to advancing health equity.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. 321,910 women plus 2,670 men are estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. in 2026.

Together we can impact for those diagnosed with breast cancer. Your donation provides 24/7 support, free lodging and rides to treatment. The American Cancer Society has contributed to almost every major cancer research breakthrough over the last 110 years.

Tribute garden

A Tribute Garden on the Lawn in front of Temple Beth Israel, 3004 Union Ave., Altoona, will be up from Sept. 27 through Tuesday, Oct. 6, after which it will be moved to Park Avenue outside PNG Field so that everyone who passes by will be able to see the tributes.

The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Central PA 2026 Ambassador is Jessica King.

King is an entrepreneur, dog mom, breast cancer survivor, founder of The Breastie Project, and passionate advocate for women navigating life before, during and after breast cancer.

King created The Breastie Project to build a sisterhood where fighters become thrivers -- providing support, connection, wellness opportunities and moments of respite for women affected by breast cancer.

Jessica's business is Among the Wild in Roaring Spring. She offers dog lodging and positive dog training.

She is married to Wes King.

Jessica's goal with The Breastie Project is to enhance the quality of life for local breast cancer fighters and survivors, providing the support she sees as crucial. She has created a supportive sisterhood that encourages healing. She calls the support group "Sister Circles," offering important wellness classes and programs along with restorative retreats that nurture the mind, body and soul.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Central PA goal for 2026 is to raise $119,000.

Registration for the walk opens at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, and the event kicks off at 2 p.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

For more information or to register a team, visit https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCCY25NER?pg=entry&fr_id=110821

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