Annual Cancer Awareness Day continues to provide Community members with a chance to share experiences

March 18, 2016

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

The 7th Annual Cancer Awareness Day “#HonoringTheJourney” will be held on Mar. 19 at the Boys & Girls Club – Sacaton Branch. Registration for the one and three mile Walk/Run will begin at 7 a.m. with the event starting at 7:30 a.m. The main portion of the event will begin at 9 a.m.

According to Devin Pablo, Community Health Education Specialist for the Gila River Indian Health Department, the purpose of the event is to allow Community members to share their experiences dealing with cancer.

“Cancer [has] become such a big issue within the Community [we wanted] to develop an event that raised awareness as well as honored anybody who has been affected by cancer, whether they had cancer and survived it, [or] whether they are dealing with cancer at the moment,” said Pablo.

We try to get people from the Community to speak on their experience or their journey, whether it was they themselves that dealt with cancer, a family member, or a friend, he added.

There will be an Honor Balloon Release where Community members each receive a balloon, write a message on a note, tie the note to the balloon, and then release the balloon into the air.

The Three Star Kualia Group and the Salt River Senior Steppers will provide entertainment

A t-shirt and lunch will be provided for the first 500 guests.

The 7th Annual Cancer Awareness Day is sponsored by Gila River Health Care, Gila River Gaming Enterprises, and the Gila River Indian Community Governor’s Health Initiative.

For more information about the event or to volunteer, call Victoria Allison at 520-550-6007.