31st Annual Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk

By Jennifer L. Warren

CENTRAL VALLEY – For Yahna Coleman the feeling is communal, bonding, precious, uplifting… more than anything, its liberating.

It’s an expansive, shared one with countless others-smiling, laughing while dressing in a pink, fun flair despite the internal battles- that has defined each moment of The Making Strides of Hudson Valley Breast Cancer Walk she participated in Sunday morning on the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets’ grounds. Joining the group, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer three years ago, the Middletown resident, Coleman, soon after signed up for her first Walk which she immediately fell in love with, “giving back, paying it forward” interacting with visitors at the Survivor’s Table with the same treatment-love and care she was given during her challenging, transformative journey.

Carrying a personal tale whose roots are embedded in 9-11 while witnessing the traumatic events of that day, Coleman, now 53, initially felt severe pain in her right leg in October, 2018, resulting in an emergency room visit and x-rays revealing five Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT’s), extremely low iron, various-sized fibroids, leading to a GYN visit and regular exam when a lump was detected and those three dreaded words were soon after delivered, “You have Cancer.” Residing in her right breast and about the size of a tennis ball, it had spread under her arm and neck.

“I sat there in his (the doctor’s) office in shock while he explained to me what was happening and what I needed to do,” recalled Coleman who was diagnosed at age 45. “I went home that day and just went to my room and cried.”

With the compassionate and expert help and care of cancer specialist, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Coleman – after painful, nauseating tireless chemotherapy, watching all her hair fall out and dosages of radiation, emotional surgery and arduous physical therapy, was able to have a lumpectomy, removing all cancer from her breast. Soon after, a hysterectomy-due to the fibroids-ensued for added protection against cervical cancer. Now, seven years in full remission, her mission is laser focused on helping others through that difficult, emotional cancer process. Joined by around 8000 women sporting pink- hued outfits and décor, cemented by their unwavering support and special community bonds Sunday, Coleman- was filled with unbridled gratitude and joy.

“I am very proud of what this organization (Making Strides) stands for and what it does for people,” said Coleman. “Standing behind the Survivor’s Table makes me smile when I get to see all the people who come to Woodbury Commons every October just to participate in a great cause; I love seeing their smiles and laughter despite the person currently suffering or the person they lost.”

The nation’s largest and most impactful breast cancer fundraiser walk, the Hudson Valley event set a target goal to raise $500,000, a little over $200,000 already wielded the weekend prior. Those monies will all be directly applied to critical research, education and programming to help combat breast cancer, a diagnosis one in eight women will receive and the most common form in that gender next to skin cancer.

This year, about 319,000 females will be delivered that tough, debilitating and life-changing diagnosis, resulting in the second leading cause of cancer death- after lung cancer- in women. Newburgh resident Carol Johnson-Cromer knows all too well about the process involved with being given that news. A three time “survivor and thriver” over a 26 year span, Johnson-Cromer, another one of the thousands of joyful, blessed, inspiring people making up this massive walk population Sunday, carries out multiple roles with the American Cancer Society as well as other support groups, all in an effort to-like Coleman-celebrate her good riddance to cancer as well as serve as an unequivocal, supportive agent to those dealing with or having navigated the disease’s walk she walked.

“This Walk means I get another chance to walk with a supportive, strong community making strides against breast cancer,” said Johnson-Cromer, a 23 year participant in the Walk, who was deeply touched by her daughter-in-law’s surprise presentation to her in David Yurman Jewelry Store: a beautiful, pink cable, flex bracelet, one of several emotionally-laden, unforgettable moments of the day. “It’s important this Walk happens to continue to encourage, hope and empower families, survivors and thrivers’ commitment to making strides against breast cancer, and I am reminded in this very moment of the many blessings I get to live, love, laugh and laugh some more.”

Like Yurman and Johnson-Cromer as well as so many others, survivor Joanna Dabek walks to celebrate life, honor those lost to as well as for the many still facing the tough road ahead of navigating breast cancer.

“I received so much love and support from family and friends, during my treatment and recovery,” said Dabek, a Committee Member for the American Cancer Society. “I now want to give back and help others feel that same support, so they know they are not alone.”

And as fellow survivor Coleman relates, that vital need for support still continues; although she is flourishing and happy with her cancer now in the rear view mirror, she is also fully aware of her higher risk status due to her one time diagnosis. It’s a return she “prays every day doesn’t happen.” In the meantime, amid her “new journey,” she receives deep solace, peace and purpose, knowing she can make an irrefutable difference in innumerable lives each October at this incredible treasured Walk she is blessed- “liberated” to have in her life and be a part of “paying it forward.” She is quick to cite why its purpose is so intertwined with her heart.

“I know I helped to make someone happy for a few hours for a greater cause just one day a year.”