On Oct. 26, at Ryan Bonaminio Park, Pink On Parade held its yearly 5K and family fun walk around the park. Proceeds from the Pink On Parade go toward The Pink Ribbon Place programs. The event raises awareness of breast cancer in the Riverside community.
Every year, there are more than 200,000 cases of breast cancer in the U.S. In 2024 alone, more than 360,000 people were diagnosed with breast cancer, according to nationalbreastcancer.org.
Understanding breast cancer can greatly aid in early detection and treatment. Through Pink On Parade, those with breast cancer and their loved ones can learn about the disease and find a supportive community.
Pink On Parade’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by cancer. A large portion of Riverside’s community joined the event to show support for survivors and those currently battling breast cancer. This event wouldn’t be possible without Riverside’s community members, who came together to volunteer.
Volunteer Miguel Lujano has seen this event bring greater awareness to breast cancer.
“Events like this usually get about 150 to 7,000 people. So we have a lot of people walking through. We want to make sure more community members understand the programs, services, and what’s out there. So this is tremendous for the community,” Lujano said.
Many volunteers feel personally connected to breast cancer awareness, either through loved ones currently battling the disease, those who have passed away, survivors, or their own fight. For others without a personal connection, they still have a strong passion for helping those with cancer and uniting the Riverside community.
Karie J. Smith has been with Riverside Community Health Foundation for eight years and is currently fighting her own battle with cancer. Smith explains how heartfelt Pink On Parade is to her personally.
“I really want to reach out to the community, and I really understand what our clients are going through. So I feel such a strong connection to that,” Smith said.
Mia Cervantes is one of the health educators for teen health, and she helps involve youth in the community. From Pink On Parade, she has seen the community come together beautifully.
“I just love seeing the unity in our community and seeing what Riverside is really about, being able to put on this amazing event and having everyone come together,” Cervantes said.
Attendees at Pink On Parade can find various components that make the event unique. There are different booths, a car show, music, and most notably, a hangout spot for survivors to connect. Cancer survivor Gayle loves to support anything that locally promotes cancer awareness.
“As a survivor, I support anything locally. The support and community survivors and their families can get is so important,” Gayle said.
People from Riverside who attend events like Pink On Parade learn and connect with their community. Pink On Parade allows people of all backgrounds and ages to understand the importance of breast cancer awareness and become more educated and compassionate individuals.
Glenda Wellington, new home health agency owner, attended Pink On Parade to network and see what others are doing to raise awareness and understanding of healthcare topics like breast cancer. With her own experience of having loved ones diagnosed with cancer, she hopes those who notice symptoms consult a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
“My message to everyone is that as soon as you start to have symptoms…I know it’s scary, but get it checked out. There are a lot of survivors now. It is not a death sentence like it used to be,” Wellington said.
This event also engages the younger generation, teaching them about breast cancer awareness. Girl Scout Gabriella Mitchell set up her booth at Pink On Parade, where she gave out dry brushes for those with breast cancer and helped educate the community on different ways to support individuals with the disease.
“My goal for my project is to educate women and help them along their journeys. This event seemed great for my project and for educating people while spreading the word about dry brushing,” Mitchell said.
Educating people on breast cancer awareness is crucial. Pink On Parade helps unite the Riverside community while ensuring those fighting cancer receive necessary care. This event educates various groups while shedding light on a dark and challenging disease like breast cancer.
