Each October the Port Huron, Michigan campus of Ross Medical Education Center observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month by participating in a local St. Clair County event recognizing this very important cause. This year the tradition continued when the campus volunteered their time and efforts to the first annual Blue Water Breast Cancer Walk organized by the local American Cancer Society Relay for Life committee. The campus proudly participated in the very first Blue Water Breast Cancer Walk by donating water and hosting the much needed hydration station at the event.
The location in which the Blue Water Breast Cancer Walk was held is a very special destination in Port Huron. Known to locals as the Blue Water River Walk, the almost one-mile of St. Clair River shoreline lies immediately south of the mouth of the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan. That is the spot where volunteers walked the morning of October 1st to show their support of Breast Cancer awareness. The River Walk is less than a mile downriver from the Blue Water Bridge to Sarnia and is owned by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. The shoreline used to create this beautiful River Walk was donated to the Community Foundation of St. Clair County by local philanthropist James C. Acheson and his wife Suzanne at Christmas of 2011.
Despite the cold, rainy morning, the walk began with an upbeat DJ spinning songs right along the River Walk. To kick off their journey, the crowd heard stories of strength and words of encouragement from local breast cancer survivors. These helped to underscore the need for awareness, early detection, and ultimately, a cure. The walk participants hiked from Desmond’s Landing to the Seaway Terminal and back again, for a nice two mile stroll. The chilly drizzle didn’t dampen the spirits of the Ross Port Huron staff and students as they set up and hosted the water station, providing the walkers with a bottle of water both before and after the walk. When asked about her participation, Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration student Jaime Babcock said with a smile, “we need to work together to help delete code C50.919!”
The Port Huron staff and faculty members were inspired by the event and are looking forward to participating again next year in the Second Annual Blue Water Breast Cancer Walk! For more information regarding the Blue Water Breast Cancer Walk and the Relay for Life of Greater Port Huron, go to their website or Facebook page.