BOSTON (WHDH) - The rain didn’t stop the thousands of people that gathered around the Boston Esplanade on Sunday morning.
The occasion? The American Cancer Society’s 24th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
This year’s event organizers hoped to raise $2.3 million for breast cancer research.
To many people, Making Strides has always been more than just a fundraiser.
“This even means a lot to me,” said Karen O’Connor, a cancer survivor. O’Connor said she had so much support when she went through it two years ago. She said it made the process so much easier.
For others, the event has become an opportunity to honor loved ones.
“This is for my grandmother” said Taylor Miller. “She passed when I was little…We didn’t’ have the technology we have now so she unfortunately passed away.”
Mayor Marty Walsh took the stage to share his own cancer survival story and encouraged those battle the disease to keep on fighting.
Some cancer researchers also volunteered their time.
One local expert, Johnathan Whetstine, PhD with Massachusetts General Hospital, said Sunday’s walk will make an impact beyond breast cancer research.
The American Cancer Society said it invested nearly $90 million dollars towards cancer research.
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