Making Strides walk at Tempe Beach Park raises breast cancer funds

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States, accounting for about 30% of all new female cancer cases each year. And it's why research is so important in finding a cure. Yeah, and this morning, Celeste Rodriguez introduces us to Christy Miller, who's a survivor and raising money in a unique way as well. So this is Jodi. We did a soft, soft pink. Jodi is helping Christy Miller raise money for the Making Strides Walk on Saturday. So I've been doing that for years also. So basically, they come in, they can put a pink panel in their hair. If they don't want the pink, I do like little sparkles. Christy Miller is a hairdresser, a breast cancer survivor, and a staunch advocate for breast cancer research. I've been doing the American Cancer Society walk, the Making Strides, for years and years. My family on my mom's side had breast cancer a lot. So I mean, it was my mom, I lost her 2012. My aunt, she actually has brain cancer right now because of the breast cancer 20 years ago. I had another aunt. My sister was diagnosed at the age of 31. And last year, she unfortunately started her own journey with the disease. And last year, I found out on my son's 18th birthday that basically I did have breast cancer and it's only because they did an MRI. But with me, I did a lumpectomy only, and then I had 22 rounds of radiation, and then I had to have my ovaries removed. So that was my birthday present last year. Every day is a gift Christy celebrates with her family and on the job. It's where she raises awareness and money for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. It's fun, and it goes towards this walk. So all the donations go towards the Making Strides Cancer Walk and right now the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk is happening that's right so we've got an army of people out there today at Tempe Beach Park joining us live look at everyone oh my goodness we got the whole crew Celeste Anita Desiree Making Strides crew you guys we just spent about 15 minutes on the stage jumping hopping high kicking we had such a great time Celeste and Des are going to take the mic in a second we just want to introduce you to Dr. Brittany Murphy, a breast cancer surgeon. Pretty incredible. You focus specifically on men and women who have breast cancer. Not an easy job. Thank you so much. It's a true passion of mine to do that. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about how many people you help, the patients you are talking to, how you sit down and you can make decisions with your patients. Your patients can make decisions with you about their care once they're diagnosed. Yes, so one in eight women will get breast cancer, and so it is very common. I am truly passionate about treating women with breast cancer and helping them come up with a decision on the treatment plan that is best for them. Thankfully, with early detection, we have so many treatment options, and our patients do so well. You know, Dr. Murphy, we were just chatting a moment ago. I interviewed a woman, Christy Miller, who did not find it. Her mammogram came back clear, and then she had breast cancer run through her family, So then she had an MRI done, so she had to ask for the additional screening. What do you recommend for women? How early should they know about their history, and when should they ask for an MRI if needed? I recommend that every woman knows their personal lifetime risk of breast cancer at age 25. Many providers can help with this calculation, and if they have a personal history or a personal risk of greater than 20%, then in addition to a screening mammogram, we also supplement that with an MRI every year. Yeah, that's amazing. mammograms, if we can point out this big bus. The big bus. The big bus. And I interviewed Mitzi Weed, who, oh, I'm sorry, Des, who works right down here. And I think you guys ran that package, that piece, a couple of hours ago. She had one of these big pink buses right outside her office. She put off her mammogram for years because she's busy, like we're all busy. And then she said, if they have an appointment, I'm going down. And she found something suspicious, which led to treatment. And it's really easy to do, especially with the bus. Brittany, how long does it take if folks here at The Walk want to go through and get their mammogram today? Only about 30 minutes. Our mobile mammography unit travels to all different sites across the valley and really tries to make it simple because screening mammograms save lives. That's incredible. And if you take a look around too, you can see all of the different tents and all the sponsors that are here this morning. I mean, we just highlighted some folks in And organizations that raised as much as $22 million. Yeah. Dr. Murphy, thank you so much. We appreciate that you guys do. Brian, come on over with me. The photojournalist Brian Hertzberg is going to come on over. You have all these different vendor tents. This is one of these photos. And hi. Hi. Good morning. Are you guys running this photo? No? We're going to do it. Oh, they're going to get ready. Okay. Well, they go ahead and take that. I'm going to interview some of these folks and talk to them in line. Hi, good morning. How are you? I'm doing great. What's your name? My name is Tamara. Tamara, you're a survivor? I am a survivor, yes. Yeah, yeah. Eight years. God bless you. Thank you. Yes, congratulations. In the American Cancer Society, I have a lot to thank for. I was able to get free housing, not free housing, but hotel during my pre-surgery experience as well, and I just really appreciate what the American Cancer Society has done. And have you been coming out ever since? Yes. There was one year I didn't get to come because my daughter and I, who's in Girl Scouts, Yes, we ended up at camp, so we just rocked tutus and hiked all throughout the campsite. And this is your daughter right here. Come on over, honey. What's your name? Amara. Aren't you beautiful? Amara, you come out, what does it mean for you to come out with mom every year? It means she's a well-spoken host of 11 future leaders of America. So great. I have to say that I love your tutu. I love your taste in tutu. Both of you love your taste in tutu. And the fanny. And the fanny. And look at the view, you guys. And Brian, walk this way. Well, it sounds like we're having mic issues, but look at all the tents. And then in the back, you guys, they have the Ring in Hope tent. That is where survivors can go and get their picture done and ring the bell because they mentioned in a lot of situations, and there's some folks' treatment, they maybe are not able to ring the bell at the end of that. So, you guys, it was incredible to see a sea of pink here on the lawn this morning. We'll send it back to you. Love it. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Appreciate it. Great to have our team out there. That's awesome.