Oct 11, 2015 3 min read

Susan Oliverio of Washington remembers participating years ago with two of her sisters in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Now, Oliverio participates in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.”

But instead of walking with her sisters, she’s walking in memory of them.

Nancy Russell and Charlotte Gault were both diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39, and six years later, they died within six weeks of each other at the Donnell House. Russell was 45 when she passed away Dec. 26, 2004; Gault was 44 when she died Feb. 6, 2005. The Washington County unit of ACS will hold its second annual Making Strides event Saturday at Consol Energy Park in North Franklin Township.

“This is more meaningful to me,” said Oliverio, who has been an ACS volunteer for eight years and serves on the Making Strides committee.

In 2015, 231,840 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Other than skin cancer, it is the most common cancer diagnosed in women.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer brings together people who want to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. The event celebrates and honors breast cancer survivors and caregivers; educates the public about prevention and detection to reduce risk of the disease; and raises money to combat breast cancer.

Last year, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer raised more than $60 million nationwide. In Washington’s inaugural event, $81,000 was raised, more than doubling the goal set by Margie Smith, specialist of community events of the East Central Division of the American Cancer Society.

“We had wonderful participation,” Smith said. “We have some really good teams going like gangbusters. We’re really excited.”

Making Strides drew 56 teams and 650 walkers last year, and many of those teams and individuals are returning this year. Smith is expecting 800 walkers this year, and has set the fundraising bar at $92,000.

“There’s been a lot of confusion. It’s really hard to differentiate this from Komen. Komen is not affiliated with the American Cancer Society,” Smith said. “With Making Strides, we own it, and we’re proud of it.”

Making Strides was started nationally in 1991, and came to Pittsburgh seven years ago. The Washington walk was born when the ACS “decided to roll it out as a community event rather than urban event,” Smith said.

In addition to the walk, the Trinity High School cheerleaders and band will perform, as well as students from the Moschetta Performing Arts Center. Other activities include Zumba, a photo booth and a survivor booth.

All money raised will be used to support breast-cancer research, mammograms, patient services and the Reach to Recovery program, which provides one-on-one peer support from a breast cancer survivor.

The walk is free, and advance registration is encouraged by visiting www.makingstrideswalk.org/washingtoncopa. On Saturday, registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by the walk at 10. For more information, contact Margie Smith at margie.smith@cancer.org.