A Sea of Pink, a Mission to Save Lives: Walk to Bust Cancer Draws 700

Alexandria – Dawn broke Sunday, October 18 with an uncharacteristic chill, following temperatures that hovered near 90 just a few days earlier. The sudden shiver might have deterred some walkers. But as the sun rose over Fort Hunt National Park south of Old Town Alexandria, a brilliant azure blue spread out across the sky for a magical, almost windless morning. Even with the thermometer clocking 39 degrees, the park was soon awash in a sea of pink, with splashes of purple, the T-shirt color for this year’s 11th annual Walk to Bust Cancer.

The walk raises money for the Breast Cancer Collective, formerly the National Breast Center Foundation, which helps people get breast cancer screening, diagnostic care, and follow-up treatment, regardless of their ability to pay. The foundation serves women in the entire DC Metro region.

What a difference a year makes. One year ago, the Walk was canceled twice, first because of the government shutdown in October, and then weather.

“Yeah, no padlock on the fence and no freezing rain. So we’re super excited!” Dr. David Weintritt, founder of the Breast Cancer Collective, said with a wide smile before the crowd arrived.

“Way too often we see a breast cancer surgeon working on a plan for someone who has late-stage disease, which means decreased survival,” Dr. Weintritt told The Zebra in an interview. He is a breast cancer surgeon, practicing in Old Town. “The common theme for so many of these patients was lack of access to screening. So while we have amazing techniques and technologies, there’s nothing better than early detection. If there are large groups who don’t have access to screening, our goal is to make sure we provide it.”

About 700 women and a scattering of men huddled in the pavilion, sipping hot coffee and munching on donuts, bananas, and other breakfast treats. As the sun rose high over the park, breast cancer survivors and supporters spread out across the expansive grass to visit the information booths and sway to the live DJ. Over 800 people paid $40 each to participate in the Walk to Bust Cancer.

Martha Carucci recalled those early days in 2015, when the foundation got its start. She served as executive director of the Breast Cancer Collective for eleven years before departing for a CEO position with First Tee – Greater Washington, DC.

“I can still remember when we first started working on the Walk to Bust Cancer. We were a small, brand-new nonprofit with a big vision to make sure that women in our community, regardless of their financial circumstances, had access to the breast cancer screening and diagnostic care they needed,” Carucci told the assembled crowd. “We knew that we needed to raise money. But we also wanted to create something much more than just a fundraiser. We wanted to bring people together.”

Dr. Weintritt told Zebra that one in four women does not get an annual mammogram.

“That’s even counting individuals who have insurance, know where to go, know how to get there. When you add in a lack of funding, that number drops well below 50%. And for a diagnosis or disease as common as breast cancer, we’re going to have a large number of women who are presenting in stage 3 instead of stage 1. And their course, from that point on, is forever altered.”

Charlotte Hall is the interim executive director of the Breast Cancer Collective. She told Zebra the Pink Gala, held last month, raised over 90,000.

“In one sense it’s easy to raise the money, but sometimes it can be hard to spend it if you don’t know how to help people. That’s where this community can help us find those people who need assistance. Whether it’s your housekeeper, whether it’s that schoolteacher, whether it’s a friend of your family who needs assistance, I just think there’s so many people we can help. It’s all a matter of educating people that we’re here.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Collective hopes to raise $275,000 from the Walk alone by the end of the month.

As temps broke the 40-degree mark, a dance quartet took to the stage to pump up the crowd before the walk. Just before participants hit the 1.4-mile paved loop, Delia Sullivan lead the large group in a mindfulness circle.

“Each of you is part of this beautiful community,” Sullivan spoke softly.  “This is an opportunity to be fully present together as a community, as a sisterhood. We’re here to celebrate survivorship. We support those who are still on their cancer journey. And we honor and remember those we have lost.” Sullivan herself is a breast cancer survivor.

Breast Cancer Collective closes out the pink month with a final fundraising event this Saturday, October 24 at Vola’s Dockside Grill in Old Town from 1:00 – 6:00 pm.

The 3rd Women’s Crawl will feature wellness activities, local businesses, food, and a closing dance party.

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