American Cancer Society director extends thanks

On behalf of the American Cancer Society, I would like to thank the residents of Monmouth and Ocean counties for their generosity and support of our annual "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walk. Approximately 4,400 walkers and 300 volunteers participated in this year’s event, raising more than $360,000 for the breast cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services through the American Cancer Society.

Making strides against breast cancer is a chance to celebrate survivorship, and I want to applaud the breast cancer survivors that lead the way. These women are heroes. They are our mothers, sisters, daughters, wives and friends. They are the reason we continue the fight, and they remind us all of a very important message — early detection is so important.

A special thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who worked to make this event a success and kept the walkers safe ... we would not have been able to do it without them.

We also appreciate the generosity of this year’s flagship sponsors: the Clayton Companies, Pathmark stores, WJLK 94.3 FM The Point, WOBM Soft Rock 92.7 FM, and WBBO 98.5 FM for their contributions and participation in this year’s walk.

Again, thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society, and remember your American Cancer Society is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any cancer-related questions. Contact your local American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or visit online at www.cancer.org.

Frank Mascia

Regional Executive Director American Cancer Society Shrewsbury