St. John’s University Participates As Flagship Sponsor For The American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Walk

October 16, 2006

Some 750 St. John’s University students, staff, administrators, faculty and alumni joined with the thousands of walkers for the 2006 “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk” this past Sunday, October 15th in the boroughs of Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan, with additional participants from Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Photo Gallery

Vice-President for Community Relations, Joseph Sciame, participated at the annual breakfast for the walk back in August of this past year and at Sunday’s walk in Queens, serving as keynote speaker in representing St. John’s as a Flagship Sponsor of the event. The breakfast was attended by some 500 supporters who came from various entities in the Borough of Queens, such as: Queens Health Network, Local 338, Pathmark, U.S. Post Office, JetBlue, and Queens County Savings Bank.  There was also a moving appeal from the niece of a breast cancer survivor and a heart wrenching story from a recent survivor who is currently in treatment, that captivated the audience.

“The walk is a great day for the Borough of Queens in which we all come together in order to respond to the seriousness of breast cancer. We at St. John’s University join in our role in educating young people with regard to testing and early detection of this tragic disease,” said Sciame. “St. John’s looks forward each year at being a ‘partner’ in such community service and participation as we all seek to find THE cure!”

Along with the walkers, St. John’s University had participation from its Cheerleaders and Jazz Band, as well as numerous fraternity and sorority members who all started the Queens Walk in Forest Hills. Borough President of Queens, the Hon. Helen Marshall, cut the pink ribbon to begin the festivities and walked on with breast cancer survivors. A mass of red St. John’s t-shirts brightened up the famed Queens Boulevard, similar to those marching on Staten Island, Long Island and in Manhattan.

For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345, or visit the ACS web site at www.cancer.org. For information regarding St John’s University contact the Office of Community Affairs at (718) 990-1941.