Pink filled the crowd at Mohawk Valley Community College on Sunday as Utica’s Making Strides walk Against Breast Cancer walk brought survivors, caregivers, families and supporters together.
Hundreds took part in the Oct. 25 event, according to WKTV’s post-event report. Presented by Upstate Cancer Center, the walk raised money for the American Cancer Society’s research and patient-support work.
The Utica Making Strides walk is crucial in supporting cancer research and patient care initiatives.
The event’s $160,000 fundraising goal gives the community a clear target. A final total was not provided in the Sunday report, so there is not yet a verified basis to say the walk reached that goal.
A local walk with a practical purpose
The official American Cancer Society event page lists the Oct. 25 walk at MVCC’s Utica campus on Sherman Drive. It also shows the many groups that made the fundraiser more than a single morning’s activity.
Among the teams listed are Penguin Platoon, SUNY Poly Team Violette, Fit Body Boot Camp of Whitesboro and Clinton, Faith and Friends, and the After Breast Cancer Support Group in the Utica area. Their presence reflects several ways neighbors can join the same cause, through school, fitness groups, friends and cancer-support communities.
The online page continues to provide a way to donate and follow the campaign. Its running amount is not necessarily the same as a final, reconciled event total, which may include gifts processed at different times.
This year’s walk follows an established local effort. In an Oct. 16 preview, the Daily Sentinel reported that the 2025 Utica event drew more than 2,000 participants and raised more than $120,000. Those are last year’s figures, not a count or total for Sunday’s walk.
The preview also noted that registration was free and there was no minimum fundraising requirement. That allowed people to participate without first meeting a donation threshold.
Help with getting to treatment
One reason these fundraisers matter is that cancer care can involve practical problems outside the exam room. Getting to an appointment can be one of them.
The American Cancer Society’s Road To Recovery program uses trained volunteer drivers to provide free rides to cancer-related medical appointments. Drivers can pick patients up, take them to appointments and bring them home.
Availability depends on the area and the patient’s needs. The society says arranging a ride can take several business days, so patients should call well before an appointment. Some people may need a caregiver to accompany them.
People who want to help in a more regular way can ask about becoming a driver. The program requires a valid driver’s license, access to a safe and reliable vehicle, and a background check. Its published age range for volunteer drivers is 18 to 84.
A place to stay when care is far away
The society’s Hope Lodge program addresses another barrier: the cost of staying near a treatment center away from home.
Hope Lodge communities offer free lodging for eligible people receiving cancer care and their caregivers. The program is not a hotel in every city, and a space is not automatically available because someone attended or supported a walk.
Patients and caregivers can contact the society to ask about locations, eligibility and other lodging assistance. The national information number is 1-800-227-2345. The same number can help callers ask about transportation options in their area.
These services are part of the work supported by the American Cancer Society. The available event reports do not establish that every dollar raised in Utica stays in Utica, or that any particular local patient has received a service because of this year’s walk.
What Sunday’s gathering does show is a community continuing to support that work. The walkers brought public attention, donations and companionship to a cause that reaches well beyond one morning on campus.
For anyone who missed the walk, the official event page remains the clearest place to find the campaign and its organizer. For someone who needs help now, the society’s support line is a more direct next step than waiting for another fundraiser.
Reporting note: This is a recap of the completed Oct. 25 walk. Attendance is described as reported by WKTV, and no final 2026 fundraising total is claimed.
