African Americans young and old came out to walk in honor of those they have lost to breast cancer and to celebrate those women who have survived and generated awareness about the illness. The purpose and mission of the Sisters Network Stop the Silence Walk is to educate and increase awareness about the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. African American women are diagnosed with this disease less frequently than their white counterparts, but the death rate continues to be higher. African American women are also more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with more aggressive tumors such as the triple negative tumor.
“First, I realize that I am blessed to be alive today to witness how my vision has impacted thousands of lives. Our members from across the county are spreading the breast cancer message and our movement is growing each and every year. This is the only national African American breast cancer walk in the nation and Sisters Network is proud to be the leading voice in the African American women’s fight against breast cancer,” said Sisters Network Founder Karen Jackson.
Funds raised by the walk will benefit Sisters Breast Cancer Assistance Program (BCAP), which provides financial assistance to survivors.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee opened up about her own personal struggle with breast cancer and praised the new partnership with MD Anderson by sharing, “Over the next couple of months we will [build a partnership] and move this partnership to reach low income women, so that they can get in front of the disease and not behind the disease. The MD Anderson and Sisters Network partnership will bring over $10,000 to the African American breast cancer community and we ask that God’s grace reigns on us, so let’s never give up and never give in because we are survivors.”
