A Startling Statistic

Approximately one in eight women living in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. This statistic hits very close to home for Team IRC. Of our 747 staffers, 612 are women. That’s 82 percent!

Pink Walk Origins

A desire to highlight the risk of breast cancer is just one of the reasons Inland Regional Center supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the past 4 years, IRC staff have participated in the IRC Pink Walk. The event was started by our Community Engagement Program Manager, CJ Cook. He shared with us why he was driven to start this event.

“In 2014, when my sister Michelle was in her final stages of breast cancer, I decided to not only honor her courageous fight, but all who have fought and won, and remember those we have lost. Michelle lost her five-year battle on February 15, 2015. She never complained, never gave up, never lost her faith and never showed weakness in front of her family.”

Michelle’s legacy lives on at IRC as we gather each year to wear our best pink outfits and walk in unity around the IRC campus in San Bernardino.

This year’s event, hosted by IRC’s Community Engagement team included snacks, music, pink goodie bags, and photo-ops with fun pink props! The walk also received a generous sponsorship from IRC’s Consumer Advisory Committee.

IRC’s satellite office in Riverside also hosted their own Pink Walk!

Why We Walk

Participants walk for many reasons. To support those who are fighting breast cancer, to honor those who beat the disease, to remember those lost to breast cancer, and of course, to raise awareness. Not only for breast cancer but for early detection!

Below is information about breast cancer and early detection:

• Breast cancer a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast
• It is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
• Breast cancer can’t be prevented, but you can take important steps to help detect it earlier such as breast self-awareness, well-woman exams, and mammograms.

The statistics and information found in this article are from the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). To learn more about signs, symptoms, and early detection, visit the NBCF online.

For additional photos of this year’s Pink Walk festivities, visit us on Facebook.

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Community Engagement

Inland Regional Center's Community Engagement Unit can be reached at [email protected]