By Caroline Averitt | Staff Writer

St. Bernards held the third annual Pink Warrior Walk on Saturday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The race started and ended at St. Bernards Health & Wellness and looped through the Arkansas State University campus. 

At 8:30 a.m., breast cancer survivors took part in a Survivor Parade in which they walked around the parking lot as they were cheered on by the other participants in the event. At 9 a.m., the race began. 

Pat Farmer, chairman of the 2022 Pink Warrior Walk said, “In the years past, we’ve had what was called the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. They decided they weren’t going to do an event in this area, so we decided at St. Bernards we were going to have our own.” 

Farmer said women are never too young to start getting breast exams and suggested getting one monthly. 

In addition to the race, volunteers ran booths and tents with prizes and food. 

Thao Do, a sophomore NYITCOM Jonesboro student from Austin, Texas said, “We have a little wheel that they can spin and they can win various prizes. This tent is set up (so survivors) can spin the wheel, get a prize and then have cookies, coffee and water and hang out before the actual run starts.” 

Do volunteered with her fellow members of the NYITCOM registered student organization, American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA). 

Jennifer Salo, the director of the Emerging Scholars Program and a breast cancer survivor said, “Our family does this every year since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017.” She said she finished treatments early and is “doing great now” She still likes to support the cause and see people in the community that have gone through the same thing. 

Edward “Ed” Salo, her husband and the associate director of Heritage Studies at Arkansas State University said, “We’re just here to support her. Our son and his friends are going to be here.” 

Their son Cameron Salo, a first-year business administration major from Jonesboro, said, “My mom is a breast cancer survivor, so I am here to support her.” 

Not everyone who participated in the event had a strong connection to breast cancer. Ryan Kelly, a professor from the education department said, “I try to run as much as my schedule and training will let me.” He added he has a history of cancer in his family and he likes to support local events. 

Over 500 people registered to participate in this event. All of the proceeds for the event go toward breast cancer research and awareness in the community. This includes services for those with breast cancer and encouraging people to get screenings and mammograms. 

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