Kake Walk for Breast
Cancer Awareness attracts 74
October 11, 2007
Thursday
Kake, Alaska - The Kake Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness on
Saturday, Oct. 6, drew 74 participants, including several people
attending the Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood
Grand Camp Convention in Kake.
"We were happy to see
so many community members and ANB/ANS members come out to help
us raise awareness about breast cancer," said Georgie Reese,
a SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Community
Wellness Advocate who organized the event for SEARHC Kake Health
Promotion.
Donald Bremner of Yakutat and Juneau, left; Alaska Native Brotherhood
Grand Camp President Dewey Skan of Klawock, center, and Dawn
Jackson of Kake participate in the Kake Walk for Breast Cancer
Awareness held Saturday, Oct. 6, in Kake, Alaska. Dawn is pushing
her infant daughter Jillian Lucy in the stroller.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM
(SEARHC)
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and cancer
has had a growing impact on Alaska Native communities. The walk
followed a short, flat course from the Kake Community Hall to
Gunnuck Creek and back, a half-mile each way so it make it accessible
for elders and youth. Among those walking were ANB Grand Camp
President Dewey Skan of Klawock, ANS Grand Camp President Johanna
Dybdahl of Hoonah, and several city and tribal officials.
The walk was held in memory
of Debra Thomas, a cook at the Kake Senior Center and longtime
teacher's aide at Kake Elementary School, who was 49 when she
passed away in August after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
Many of her family members also took part in the walk. The walk
also honored all women (and some men) who have been diagnosed
with the disease.
Some of the 74 walkers
to register for the Kake Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness take
off from the Kake Community Hall on Saturday (Oct. 6, 2007) en
route to Gunnuck Creek and back. The walk took place on the last
day of the Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood
Grand Camp Convention in Kake, Alaska, and attracted several
tribal delegates to the convention.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL HEALTH CONSORTIUM
(SEARHC)
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and second-leading
cause of cancer death (after lung cancer) among women. Early
detection of breast cancer through regular breast self-exams,
clinical breast exams and mammograms can increase the chances
of long-term survival. All women are encouraged to get a complete
annual health screening, which includes a heart health exam in
addition to the breast exams.
For information on how to schedule
annual women's health screenings, contact the SEARHC Kake Health
Center at 785-3333 or the SEARHC Women's Health Program at 1-888-388-8782.
For online information on the SEARHC Women's Health Program,
which includes the Breast and Cervical Health Program and WISEWOMAN,
go to http://www.searhc.org/womenshealth/.
Source of News & Photographs:
SOUTHEAST ALASKA REGIONAL HEALTH
CONSORTIUM (SEARHC)
www.searhc.org
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