Hundreds participated in annual breast cancer walk

A sea of pink flooded the town of Castleton on Oct. 20. Shirts, bracelets, ribbons and even a hot tub were bright pink to commemorate and raise awareness for people impacted by breast cancer.   

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, the Vermont State University Castleton Campus welcomed the public to participate in the annual “Making Stride Against Breast Cancer” fundraising walk. The four-mile loop attracted individuals from varying backgrounds: survivors, those who had lost loved ones to the disease, and people who simply wanted to make a difference. 

“Seeing all the people come together–everybody is so involved. It’s a great day,” Cathy Rotondo said. 

As the team captain of “Strumming for Strides,” Rotondo organized a group of ukulele players to serenade participants as they walked through town. She believes the sense of community this event provides is a crucial reminder to offer support whenever possible. 

Her grandmother, mother, and sister survived cancer, and their journeys prompted Rotondo to involve herself in fundraising. She advocates for early detection and frequent screenings, and she hopes accessible treatment becomes standard. 

The Poultney Cheer Team made an appearance too, sporting pink pom poms and bows. The team smiled through stunts and cheers, excited to raise awareness while taking part in an activity they love. 

Haylee Pellistri, a sophomore who cheers for Poultney expressed gratitude for the ability to be a part of making a difference through cheer. 

“Both sides of my family have had breast cancer, and coming together as a community to help those who have fought means a lot,” she said. 

Emotions were heightened and tears were shed as people remembered their personal journeys with the disease. Susan Ahearn, a survivor of 14 years, briefly recalled her experience, focused on the support she received during treatment. 

“[The walk] just shows how much people care,” said Ahearn while choking up with tears in her eyes. 

As someone who has participated in the cancer walk since its inception, Ahearn saw the turnout of the event increase. She helped to foster the sense of pride and community of survivors. 

“If you say, ‘Breast Cancer’ people just say ‘Ok, sign me up.’ It just shows how many people are willing to help,” Ahearn said. 

Allen Pools and Spas showed its support by donating a bright pink hot tub to be raffled. “Spas for a Cause” is the slogan the company adopted to champion support for cancer awareness. According to its website, Allen Pools and Spas donate $100 to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for every hot tub, Endless Pool, and Sauna purchased in the month of October. 

Kimberly Ghigliotti, an employee of Allen Spas, spoke of her motivations for working the event. One was personal, but the other centered around the prevalent sense of community and the opportunity to raise money. 

“I’ve worked at Allen for a long time. We spent two months raising money for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” said Ghigliotti. 

When asked to provide a piece of advice to someone currently affected by the disease, she said one word. 

“Fight.”