Hundreds run/walk at AdventHealth Sebring to raise money for Breast Cancer care

More than 260 people, adorned in pink, took part in AdventHealth Sebring Foundation's Pink on Parade annual event in support of those who have or had breast cancer and raise money to help fight the disease.

The 5K and 1 mile run/walk on Sunday, October 5, honored our brave community members who are facing breast cancer, celebrated survivors who have won their fight and remembered those who shine on through their loved ones.

One of the participants was Jacqueline Loney, a breast cancer survivor who said she became a nurse following her treatment because of the compassion she was shown by her health care team during her battle.

“Some of the best nurses I had either had cancer or had someone close to them with cancer,” Loney said. “I wanted to have that same level of compassion for someone else and help in their journey.”

Loney said she was 37 when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2023, after doing a self-check and finding a lump in her breast. She said her journey was difficult and included going through radiation, chemotherapy, a mastectomy, and immunotherapy, but she vowed to do everything she needed to do because she had children to fight for, and she wants others to know they can overcome their own health issues.

“I didn’t realize how much I was willing to do to live, to survive, so you can also do hard things. It’ll be hard but it’s worth it to now be on the other side of it and cancer free,” Loney said. “I still have to get checked, still have to do things to make sure I stay this way.”

She said leaned on the love and support she received from her daughters, her husband, her mother, her support group and her healthcare workers, who she called a “lifeline.” Now as a nurse, she’s supporting patients who are fighting battles of their own and offering them encouragement.

“I remind them they can do hard things, and they are not alone,” Loney said.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Health experts say mammography is the single most effective method of early detection, since it can identify cancer several years before physical symptoms develop.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who are 40 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every two years or as advised by their physician.

“It is so critical for women to monitor their bodies and make sure they get any suggested mammograms or tests to make sure any potential issues are caught as early as possible, especially if family history puts them at increased risk” said Dr. Victoria Selley, Chief Medical Officer of AdventHealth Sebring, AdventHealth Wauchula and AdventHealth Lake Placid. “There are also ways to lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health in several ways including, keeping a healthy weight and being physically active.”

Since 2017, AdventHealth Sebring Foundation's Pink on Parade has united the community and raised more than $300,000 to support breast health by funding early detection screenings, as well as life-saving equipment to help diagnose and treat women and men with breast cancer or breast illnesses.

To schedule a mammogram or learn more about breast health services at AdventHealth, visit scheduleyourmammo.com.