By Kelsey Durham
Dozens came out to participate in the inaugural Queens Cancer Walk in Richmond Hill last weekend in honor of a breast cancer survivor who lived to tell her story.
Allison Alexis has been cancer-free for three years, an accomplishment that inspired one of her close friends to organize a walk in her honor that would raise money for patients battling cancer. The result was what organizers said they believe was the first universal cancer walk in the borough that did not focus its efforts on a certain type of cancer, and all proceeds were donated to a group called SHAREing & CAREing, which provides support and financial help to cancer patients.
“We chose to use lavender as a color because that’s the universal color for cancer, and that’s what we want to support,” said Mohamed Q. Amin, who organized the walk at Phil Rizutto park last Saturday.
Amin said he has been friendly with Alexis for a long time and he watched her go through her breast cancer treatments three years ago, a situation he said many people often endure alone because they do not feel comfortable talking about it with others. As he began planning the cancer walk last year, he said he had a goal to make people who were going through the same experience feel like they were not alone.
“I think it’s a cultural thing where a lot of people in this community just don’t feel comfortable telling others they have cancer,” Amin said. “We want to let people know that it’s okay to talk about it. This is to empower the victims and the survivors.”
One survivor who came to Sunday’s walk was featured as a guest speaker who talked about encouraging people to share their stories, something he was motivated to do after being diagnosed with breast cancer several years ago.
“Most people don’t know males can get breast cancer too,” said Sato Budhram, a 10-year cancer survivor. “I just want to make people aware that it can happen to them, too. Men are also susceptible to breast cancer and should know that if they have any abnormality in the chest area whatsoever, contact your doctor because early detection can save your life.”
Dez Veerasawmy, who beat leukemia and has been cancer-free for eight years, also said she came to the walk Saturday to encourage community togetherness and said she wants people to know that whatever they are going through, they do not have to go through it alone.
“Instead of trying to face it alone, we can come together and help each other,” she said. “That’s the most important message. Other people are sharing the same pain.”
Amin said he was pleased with the turnout he got for the first year of the cancer walk and said he hopes to be able to continue it next year and beyond as a way to raise money for cancer research and resources for patients. He said he was happy to see such great support from the community and hopes to continue giving back in honor of his friend and to spread the message that it is okay to talk about your struggle with cancer.
“Cancer doesn’t discriminate,” he said. “Whether you’re rich, poor, black, white or whatever, it affects everyone in some way and we need to send a message to empower them to talk about it.”
Reach reporter Kelsey Durham at 718-260-4573 or by e-mail at kdurham@cnglocal.com.
