Residents Invited to Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

MORENO VALLEY>> The Pink Ribbon Place, a program of Riverside Community Health Foundation, will host the 5th annual Pink on Parade, Riverside’s breast cancer awareness walk at Ryan Bonaminio Park on Oct. 15. Last year’s event had more than 800 participants from family members to city officials, supporting breast cancer awareness and breast cancer survivors in the community as they hit the pavement at Fairmount Park. Participants came from throughout the Inland Empire engaging in attractions including a special recognition for survivors, vendors, shopping, prizes and fun activites for all ages. All money raised benefit the programs of The Pink Ribbon Place, Riverside’s breast cancer resource center, which provides support, products and services to all those who have been impacted by breast cancer in Riverside and the surrounding communities. The 5th annual Pink on Parade breast cancer awareness walk will include a 5K walk/run up Mt. Rubidoux and a 1.8K Family Fun Walk around Ryan Bonaminio Park. The walk will start at 8:30 a.m. with registration opening at 7:30 a.m. and pre-race activities starting at 8 a.m. Rain or shine, the event will be held at Ryan Bonaminio Park by the west entrance at Gregory Road, located at 5000 Tequesquite Ave. in Riverside, and will follow a 5K course that will loop up and down Mt. Rubidoux. The event will feature pre-event ceremonies including a special survivor celebration and music. Early registration starts at $15 for students and seniors with valid ID and $30 for adults and survivors. Official Pink on Parade 2016 t-shirts will be provided for all early registration participants, excluding children. Registration prices will increase after September 24. Official Pink on Parade t-shirts will be guaranteed for those who register before September 24, and are available for purchase starting September 25. Online registration is open at http://www.pinkonparade.org. The event will also feature a Kids’ Expo that includes face painting, projects and games. There will also be a Strike Down Breast Cancer Dunk Tank where participants will have the opportunity to dunk some of the local favorites, including Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey, Riverside Police Department Chief Sergio Diaz and Riverside Fire Department Deputy Chief Lawayne Hearn. Team and spirit awards will be presented by The Pink Ribbon Place for those who have the most spirit and who have raised the most money. Teams also have the ability to gain access to an exclusive Team Tailgate Party throughout the event by raising $500 or more. For more details about the dunk tank, schedule and Team Tailgate, check out the website at http://www.pinkonparade.org. All participants are encouraged to wear pink to support the cause. “We are very fortunate to have the support of the City of Riverside and community to be able to have Pink on Parade in our own backyards,” said Dr. Dan Anderson, President and CEO of Riverside Community Health Foundation. “The walk truly brings together people of all ages and backgrounds to support those who have been impacted by the disease in our community.” Riverside’s own Lauren Potter, an advocate and actress best known for her role as Becky in Fox’s hit TV series “Glee,” will be walking with her team,“The Gleeful Bosom Buddies,” up Mt. Rubidoux in support of her mother and this year’s Honorary Chair, Robin Sinkhorn. “It’s important that we have resources like The Pink Ribbon Place in our community,” said Sinkhorn, a registered nurse, advocate for breast cancer awareness and children with special needs and disabilities. “I never thought breast cancer would happen to me. I didn’t have the typical risk factors so I felt pretty safe. Luckily though, I did my mammograms on a regular basis, so my cancer was identified at an early stage. That’s why breast cancer awareness and regular screenings are so very important. It saves lives.” 100 percent of the proceeds raised from the event will go directly into the programs of The Pink Ribbon Place which increase breast cancer awareness, provide education about early detection, provide access to mammograms and biopsies for women under the age of 40 and provide support and resources for women and men in the local community who are newly diagnosed or facing a recurrence of breast cancer at no cost. This year’s Pink on Parade was made possible by the support of Borrego Community Health Foundation, Riverside Community Hospital, Parkview Community Hospital, Loma Linda Univeristy Health, City of Riverside and The Press-Enterprise. “My mom is a cancer fighter,” said Chrissy Armstrong, a 2015 Pink on Parade team captain for Team Debbie. “Our family is very close, so we teamed up to show support for my mom.” For more information about how to get involved with Pink on Parade or to register as a walker or volunteer, please visit http://www.pinkonparade.org.