Second Saturday Strides are fun runs/walks led by the Commonwealth Cancer Association on the second Saturday of every month to promote healthy physical activity in the community and raise funds for cancer programs. The most recent run/walk was held on Sept. 11, and marked the organization’s second Strides event.
“Our very first Strides event was held on Aug. 14. Twenty-three people showed up to participate, and we raised about $300 in cash and in-kind contributions that morning,” CCA fundraising chairwoman Jocelyn Deleon Guerrero says. “The next Strides event, on Sept. 11, we had more than 30 people participate, including quite a few new faces, and this time we raised about $420 in cash and in-kind contributions. We hope the trend continues, and that we’ll see even more participation and support from the community in the coming months.”
“An early-morning walk is a great way to start the day, and the benefits of walking are well-known,” notes CCA senior advisor Dr. Jack Hardy. Dr. Hardy has participated in both Strides events held in August and September. “Walking is one of the easiest, cheapest, and most enjoyable ways to be physically active, and it can help reduce risk for cancer, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes.”
Second Saturday Strides is made possible through the support and partnership of Micronesian Brokers (CNMI) Inc., Foremost Foods, the Department of Public Health Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, and volunteers of the Commonwealth Cancer Association. Samples of Ensure, Glucerna, and Quaker oatmeal bars from Micronesian Brokers, bottled water from Foremost Foods, and cancer awareness wristbands, pins, and visors from Public Health, are just a few of the incentives given out to runners and walkers who participate in the Strides. Last weekend, CCA volunteers Alexis Hofschneider and Nathania Maui helped set up the pavilion, register participants, and hand out incentives.
The Commonwealth Cancer Association requests a donation of $5 per person for Second Saturday Strides. All proceeds go to support the CCA’s cancer awareness and patient support programs.
The next Strides event is scheduled for Oct. 9. For more information, or to find out how you can contribute, call CCA at 682-0050 or email cca@ccamarianas.org.
