Striving to end breast cancer one step at a time

"No matter how many surgeries how much chemo or radiation cancer did not take over my life," Janice Hetrick, breast cancer survivor, said.

Now, she participates in walks, runs, and rides for women who are battling or have beaten breast cancer, to inspire them to never give up.

"I run for them and I have done 200 events since my diagnosis," she said."5k, 10k, half marathon, Tough Mudders, Spartan, and the Empire State ride."

She along with 15,000 other survivors, fighters, and family members, came to Canalside for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k walk and run. Seven Eyewitness News morning anchors Ed Drantch and Katie Morse once again served as emcees, helping fire up the crowd on a cool fall morning.

Together, walkers and runners raised nearly half a million dollars for  breast cancer research and free wigs.

Pink was the color of the day, but strength was the motto.

"I really believe attitude is a key factor so I wasn't going to let it take me I took cancer over," Laura Brandys, a two-time breast cancer survivor, said.

She wore pink, not just for herself, but for her entire family.

"My grandmother died from it. I have an aunt that had it. Two of my paternal aunts had it  and one of them did pass away from it. So its very entwined in our family."

According to breast cancer dot org about 1 in 8 U-S women will develop breast cancer. The risk nearly doubles for women with an immediate relative who also has it.

But to Hetrick, those are just numbers. She is a survivor and will continue to use that title as hope for other women.

"Survivor means I can do more runs I can do more bike rides."

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