8 OCTOBER 21, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Queens residents join annual Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer walk in Flushing Meadows Corona Park
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Hundreds gathered for the
Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer walk at Flushing
Meadows Corona Park on Sunday,
Oct. 17.
Queens residents joined the
1.8-mile walk that began at the Promenade
of Industry and Universe
Court in Flushing Meadows Corona
Park, in order to help raise awareness
and funds for breast cancer
research.
Sunday’s participants gathered
with their teams in the morning,
wearing different shades of pink and
sporting decorative outfits. They
then walked around the fountain,
toward the Unisphere, then over the
highway to loop around and finish
outside Arthur Ashe Stadium on
Avenue of the Americas.
Molly Dougherty, the event lead,
said the community event helps
bring together people who are or
have been affected by breast cancer.
“They can be survivors. They can
be walking in honor of someone.
They could be here with a family
member or a loved one or a friend,
all here for one main cause, and that
is the fight against breast cancer,”
Volunteers with the American Cancer Society pose for a photo before the start of the annual Making Strides
Against Breast Cancer walk in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2021.
Photos by Paul Frangipane
Dougherty said. “One day we are
going to find that cure. And we’re
really here just to cheer on our survivors
and to remember those who
have lost their battle, unfortunately.”
Resorts World New York (RWNY)
partnered with the American Cancer
Society for the annual Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.
This year’s event holds special
meaning for the RWNY team, as
they walked in honor of former team
member Tonia Schieren, who lost her
fi ght against cancer in 2019. They also
donated $10,000 to the American Cancer
Society in Schieren’s memory.
“Tonia Schieren was a friend to
everyone. She was always happy,
always smiling, and never took
anything in life for granted. She is
truly missed and would have been
honored to be remembered in this
way,” said Mary Ann Montalvo, customer
relationship representative at
Resort World New York City.
Last year, amid the COVID-19
pandemic, they hosted a small car
parade and a virtual walk.
Dougherty said this year, they had
thousands of participants, “which is
amazing during a pandemic.”
“We’re rocking the pink and we’re
bringing the pink power,” Dougherty
said.
Additional reporting by Paul
Frangipane.
Queens cheerleaders show support for participants as they fi nish the annual Making Strides Against Breast
Cancer walk in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
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