On October 18, Rochester Regional Health is partnering with the American Cancer Society to fight against breast cancer and present the Making Strides of Rochester Walk.
This year, the event will be held at ESL Ballpark and bring together women living with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors, along with their family, friends, and supporters. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; the walk begins at 10 a.m.
Our commitment to the fight against breast cancer
Through our partnership with the American Cancer Society, Rochester Regional Health is committed to helping to fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and providing patient services such as free rides to chemo, free places to stay near treatment, and a live 24/7 cancer helpline.
The American Cancer Society is currently funding 71 grants in New York totaling more than $54 million. Over the last 17 years, Rochester Regional is proud to have brought in more than $227,000 to help the American Cancer Society with those efforts - including more than $47,000 in 2025.
“We are deeply grateful for Rochester Regional Health's ongoing partnership and support of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Rochester,” said Loretta Fritsch, Senior Manager, Events for the American Cancer Society. “Their commitment helps fuel the American Cancer Society's mission to improve the lives of people with breast cancer and their families. Together with our survivors, supporters, sponsors, and volunteers, we are building hope, advancing research, and working toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive breast cancer. We look forward to uniting the Rochester community on October 18th for a day of inspiration, hope, and action.”
As healthcare workers, we know the struggles and joys along each step of the journey through breast cancer. prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survivorship, our teams at Lipson Cancer Institute and Rochester Regional Health Breast Center work with women to give them the full range of breast care they may need.
How Rochester Regional Health supports women in their breast cancer journeys
We strive to encourage and strengthen all women who are experiencing breast cancer, including patients, survivors, and caregivers.
Our services include regular mammograms and preventative screenings to assess any risks that each woman may have. Understanding a diagnosis can be important, as well. We work to ensure you know what is happening with your body, what to expect next, and what options are available to you – whether that is medically, emotionally, or spiritually.
“The American Cancer Society are the ones who help our patients heal what we cannot with medicine,” said Kelly Krupa, MD, Executive Director of the Rochester Regional Health Breast Center. “The work that they do is invaluable, in terms of recreating that sense of normalcy and community support. Most of all, they make people feel like they are not alone.”
The journey through breast cancer does not stop once a patient enters remission. Supporting survivors is an important component of care with Rochester Regional Health. Our team will be there to discuss possible future health risks and follow-up care, along with post-treatment surgeries such as breast reconstruction.
How to register or donate
Anyone interested in joining the Walk on October 18 can sign up individually or as part of a team on the Making Strides of Rochester Walk website.
If you want to be a part of the Walk but can’t be there in person, you can donate to a specific person, team, or the overall fundraising effort.
Walk with us and thousands of others at ESL Ballpark! Find us at the Rochester Regional Health tent for face painting, swag, a photo station, and more.
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