Prospect Park in Pink

It was a beautiful October day in on Sunday, but the park was not filled with the usual red, orange and yellows typical of an autumn morning, but rather filled with pink.

The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in Prospect Park attracted tens of thousands of people, wearing pink shirts, scarves, hats and even pink wigs, for the 3-mile jaunt around the park to support breast cancer survivors, raise awareness, raise money for families suffering with the disease in Brooklyn, to help fund research, find a cure and to honor those who have died from breast cancer.

According to Nancy Colt, the director of special events for Making Strides, their goal was to raise $1.2 million. The official number raised will be released later on Sunday.

Colt also said that they expected 30,000 participants, as she stood near the finish line and watched the surging pink crowd. An official number will also be released later today.

Elizabeth Casanova, who was diagnosed with breast cancer eight years, 10 months and 15 days ago, is still battling the disease after it recently spread to her other breast, but she was out walking nonetheless.

“I have been walking for 8 years and every year it gets bigger, ” Casanova said, who lives in Sunset Park. “It is going to out grow this park pretty soon.”

The walk started at 9th Street and Prospect Park West at 11 a.m. and made a circle around the park. There were marching bands and cheer leaders at the starting line, one mile, two and three mile marks cheering, “Don’t Stop! Keep it Moving!”

Some walkers also wore signs on their backs with the names of family and friends who are living with breast cancer, survived and are free from the disease or those who have died from it.

Ashley Winn, a 20-year-old who’s mother was diagnosed with the disease four years ago, was walking with a sign on her back that read: “I am making strides for: my mom, Vilma Winn.”

“I am walking because my mother was diagnosed with stage three and she went through chemo and radiation while she was raising two kids and working a full-time job,” Winn said, who took care of her mother while she was under going treatment, which inspired her to go to school to get her nursing degree at the College of Mount Saint Vincent’s in Riverdale. “My mother is tiny, only 110 pounds, and she would do chemo during her lunch break. She is simply the strongest woman I know.”

Many survivors wore shirts with “survivor” written on the back and some wore signs stating how many years they have survived for.

“I was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, but I beat it and now I am an 11-year survivor. I never cry because I lost a breast, instead I thank God every day I am still alive,” said Elsie van Putten, who supports young women with the disease by speaking with them over the phone. She was walking with the team Chosen 2 Win, composed of members of Emmanuel Baptist Church on Lafayette Avenue in Clinton Hill. “If I can take the fear out of a person, that’s all I need. That’s why I am here: to tell my story. You never know whom I can save and support with just a phone call.”

Irene Santamaria, 64, who is a almost a seven-year survivor and went back to school two years ago to become a medical assistant, was brought to tears while she thought about what the Making Strides walk means to her.

“Today is very emotional, if people weren’t doing this walk before me, I wouldn’t be here,” she said explaining that the money raised by the event helps to fund research while dabbing her eyes with her finger. “The doctors who treated me wouldn’t have had the precision, technology and medicine I took to cure my cancer. I wouldn’t be here today. I am just paying it forward for everyone who comes behind me.”