Hundreds Walk to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

More than 500 Wayne residents, student athletes, and business owners walked to help fund breast cancer research Sunday.

The second annual Health Partners Breast Cancer Awareness Walk was held near St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital. The three-mile walk raised money for the hospital’s foundation. University Imaging, a division of St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, sponsored the walk.

The walk was designed to educate young people about breast cancer and empower them to find a cure for the leading cause of cancer death for women 40 to 50 years old.

Mayor Chris Vergano praised “the energy of our youth” for supporting the event.

Dozens of Wayne Valley High School athletes participated in the walk. The teams will also donate all of the sales of T-shirts and items sold at the varsity and junior varsity field hockey teams’ annual Stick It to Cancer games against Wayne Hills Tuesday.

Dr. Charles Whang, medical director of University Imaging, said the best defense against breast cancer is early detection.

“When one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is very high.”

Dayna Varano, a breast cancer survivor, encouraged the youth to “know their bodies” and see a doctor at the first sign something seems off.

Donald Hinchman, owner of Herbert J. Hinchman & Son Concrete brought his special breast cancer cement mixer to the walk. Hinchman’s family has been fighting breast cancer since the 1970s. Hinchman donates to various cancer charities $1 for every yard of concrete the mixer delivers.

University Imaging is accepting donations throughout October. For more information about University Imaging, or to make a donation, visit their website.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.