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The Staten Island Runner
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The Run to Miami
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Why We are Running
by Agnes Oquendo
The purpose of this run is to promote an awareness & education on how wide spread breast cancer is. The fact is that there will be 190,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer this year. 1 out of 8 women in the U.S. get breast cancer & 1 out of 28 die from it. Every 3 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer & every 12 minutes a woman dies from it. 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer did not have a family history of it. All women are at risk of getting breast cancer. Men are not immune. In 2000 there were 1400 cases in men & 400 died from it. Usually when men are diagnosed, it is in the last stages because people do not think that men get breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women & is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women. These statistics are astounding for this day & age. Right now, all we have is early detection in order to be cured. This is the reason for routine mammography. I did not have a lump. Mine was found on routine mammography.
This run was Louis' idea. when he found out about my cancer, he felt helpless. He doesn't want to hear the words, "I have breast cancer" from his grand daughter. This is his way of making a difference for his grand daughter & all women because more needs to be done in order to find a cure. We hope to raise enough funds to make that difference. Cancer has touched many families, please don't wait for it to touch yours to take a stand. We welcome all to join us in the battle against breast cancer. As Staten Islanders, we should be concerned because we have an 11% higher rate of breast cancer, 23% higher rate of lung cancer & 17% higher rate of colon cancer than all of New York State.
We appreciate all of the support that we are getting from all of you. Thank you.
Hope to see you Saturday at 9AM at Clove Lake Park.
Agnes
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