During the month of October, we honor those who are fighting against breast cancer. People focus on raising awareness about the illness, one of the most common cancers amongst women. Throughout Miami, various events will take place, including the More Than Pink Walk in Hialeah and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks at LoanDepot Park and Amerant Bank Arena.
Participants walk to honor breast cancer survivors, educate the public about disease prevention and detection, and raise funds to help end breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen organization, more than four million people in the United States are either breast cancer survivors or currently living with the disease. These events are vital for uniting the community and supporting the search for cancer cures.
“Part of that is, of course, investing a significant amount of funding into research so that we can find a cure for breast cancer one day,” says Gil Zepeda, Susan G. Komen’s development manager for the South Florida region. “But there’s also the part of what we love to make sure that those that are living with breast cancer today, those that are being diagnosed, and those that have survived breast cancer also have a very strong community around them.”
Zepeda leads all development efforts and community affairs for Susan G. Komen in West Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade County. He is currently leading the charge for the More Than Pink walk, which will take place Oct. 19 at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah. The Making Strides walk is set for Oct. 26.
During these walks, Zepeda mentions that people can find out about Hope Villages, homes to individuals who have been diagnosed with breast cancer or those in treatment. There is also the “We Remember” tent for those who want to write a name and message to someone you know who lost their life to breast cancer.

“There…are opportunities…for those that want to get involved… or maybe for those that just want to go there and remember someone who they may have lost,” says Zepeda. “And so we provide things for everyone during the More Than Pink Walk.”