MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Marine Corps Community Services hosted the third annual breast cancer awareness 5k walk or run along the seawall here Oct. 15.
The purpose of the walk was to bring awareness of breast cancer to everyone on and off the air station.
“The month of October is breast cancer awareness month and we are just trying to keep the public aware,” said Andrea M. Aguirre, health promotions assistant. “We are educating the public of the risks of breast cancer and what they can do in order to be sure they are healthy or catch it in its early stages.”
There are some things which everyone, male or female, younger or older can do to be sure they are healthy.
“We have the mammovan coming out from Oct. 24 until Oct. 27,” said Aguirre. “But there are other things people may do to make sure they are healthy.”
The mammovan is scheduled to come out to allow any station residents to be professionally checked for breast cancer. There are other ways to check for breast cancer throughout the year.
“I want people to be aware of the importance of early detection and continuing monthly self exams,” said Alma S. Dickinson, health promotions director.
All station residents and Department of Defense employees were invited to come out and participate in the event.
“We have a variety or participants here, we have some runners out there and we even have some smaller children,” said Dickinson.
Sgt. David T. Meredith, assistant section 1 leader for station Aircraft Rescue Firefighters, was one of those runners.
I enjoy coming out, staying fit, helping to educate myself and doing it for a great cause, said Meredith. MCCS educated everyone about their probability and the risks involved in being diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Now I understand my chances of getting breast cancer, even as a healthy male,” said Meredith.
The primary mission of this event was to bring people together and educate them of the dangers of breast cancer.
“I just love everyone coming together and supporting a cause like this,” said Meredith.
Not only does the run educate everyone here but it also promotes health by keeping people fit with the walk/run.
More than 40,000 people die every year from breast cancer and more than 254,000 thousand are diagnosed with breast cancer annually. By simply performing a self check every month and being diagnosed and treated while the cancer is still in its early stages, thousands of people could possibly survivs of breast cancer every year.