The American Cancer Society's 11th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk was a success, as about 18,000 walkers took part in the event, according to organizers. The Saturday walk was intended to help raise money for Road to Recovery and other programs supporting breast cancer patients, research, education and advocacy. The $150,000 raised will fund efforts such as Hope Lodge or Road to Recovery, an American Cancer Society service program conceived to provide transportation for cancer patients to their treatments and home again.

The 3.1 mile non-competitive walk which started at Calder Plaza downtown was also meant to raise awareness and the impact was even higher because nearly everyone participating is touched by the disease in some way. Most of those in the park Saturday wore stickers with the name of the person they walked to honor or to remember. Some walked for many names; some just walked for the cure. A lot of people were walking for "Mom." And some were walking for themselves.

Lydia Christie joined the walk to show her support for family and friends. "For me, to walk or run, I ran, for my family and friends, because we need to beat this. It seems to be too much of a common word right now," Christie said. The disease kills about 45,000 women each year in the United States.

The American Cancer Society held "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" walks in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Naples.