A sea of pink: See hundreds walking in Hialeah to support those battling breast cancer

Pink shirts. Pink glasses. Bright, neon pink hair. And pink flamingos.

Everywhere you looked, there was a sea of pink at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah Saturday, where hundreds gathered to show their support for breast cancer patients and help raise funds to improve research and access to care.

The Susan G. Komen’s “More Than Pink Walk” gave people the opportunity to support those battling breast cancer and celebrate the ones who were now cancer free. It was also a time to remember and honor those who died. About 42,000 women and 500 men in the U.S. die from breast cancer each year.

“To my mommy, the strongest person I’ve ever met. Today we walk for you,” read one of the notes written at the event.

From left to right: Joseph Nerey, Will Fleites, Camila Fleites, 6, and Isabella Fleites, 20, participate in the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk at Amelia Earhart Park on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Hialeah, Fla. The event aims to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
From left to right: Joseph Nerey, Will Fleites, Camila Fleites, 6, and Isabella Fleites, 20, participate in the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk at Amelia Earhart Park on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Hialeah, Fla. The event aims to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

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Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, excluding skin cancers. This year, Susan G. Komen, the breast cancer nonprofit, said the money raised from the walk will be used to help support its health equity initiatives. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black women also die from the disease at a higher rate than white woman.

Breast cancer survivors hold flowers and cheer as they attend the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk at Amelia Earhart Park on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Hialeah, Fla. The event aims to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
Breast cancer survivors hold flowers and cheer as they attend the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk at Amelia Earhart Park on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Hialeah, Fla. The event aims to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.

“We look forward to creating a community for anyone impacted by breast cancer ... Funds raised from the MORE THAN PINK Walk will further Komen’s ability to meet the needs of patients and advance our health equity revolution to break down barriers to quality, timely care that create poor breast health outcomes,” said Sean Gross, the nonprofit’s state executive director, in a statement.

This year’s event raised more than $532,000, surpassing its $500,000 goal, according to the breast cancer nonprofit’s website.

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Susan G. Komen has also partnered with select stores in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale-area for October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to help raise funds. Participating stores will donate a portion of their proceeds through Oct. 31 to the nonprofit. The money will be used to help support the nonprofit’s mission to end breast cancer. To find a participating business, visit https://komenflorida.org/downtowns-go-pink/

See photos of the walk below:

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