Sista Strut Brings Community Together through Breast Cancer Awareness Walk

To kick off Women’s History Month, Sista Strut hosted its 10th Annual 3K Breast Cancer Awareness Walk in New Orleans at City Park. Created as a campaign to raise awareness of Breast Cancer in the Black Community, the event brought together supporters, survivors, and sponsors on March 7th for the Annual Walk. 

“Priority Healthcare does blood pressure checks, glucose checks, HIV testing, hepatitis, syphilis, and also gives out gift cards through a raffle,” said Ocquanetta Williams, a Medical Assistant with Priority Healthcare. “We take part in the community by giving back. We always do events like this, we’re doing free health screenings, so it’s just a little different way we give back,” said Williams, a New Orleans resident. 

Amongst this year’s sponsors and healthcare groups present were Morris Bart, DePaul Community Health, Novartis, the American Cancer Society, and Renew Schools. Before the walk began, participants of all backgrounds gathered around the stage to listen to music by DJ Flowerchild and encouraging words from speakers like “Uptown Angela” Charles, the Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeart Media. 

“To participate in the walk is very important. Awareness is always good to put the word out there,” said Jona Wilson, a resident of Marrero, LA., who was a first-time participant at Sista Strut. Wilson added that it is important for women to get mammograms, as he walks in the event to support his wife and aunt.

Sista Strut educates women about Breast Cancer, particularly for African American Women, who in the U.S. have a 41-percent higher death rate from Breast Cancer than White Women, along with being more likely to be diagnosed with Breast Cancer before the age of 40. Through Sista Strut’s Annual Walks across the United States, they help to not only raise awareness about Breast Cancer but also to educate people about the importance of getting health check-ups and getting tested for Breast Cancer earlier. 

“I think it’s really important as a Black Woman. We don’t get first-line treatment that other races get, and when we come together, we learn from one another, we learn the resources that are out there for those who are still in the fight, and for those who have completed the fight,” said Nastassia Ross, a Marrero resident, Breast Cancer survivor, and member of the Alter Ego Steppers. 

Sista Strut highlighted survivors of Breast Cancer from the stage and participants who were running in support of someone persevering against Breast Cancer. Participants from all over the country attended this year’s walk, proudly supporting Breast Cancer Awareness through shirts designed by Sista Strut. 

“It’s important to me because there was a time when I wasn’t able to walk because I was dealing with Breast Cancer,” said Ross, a Program Analyst with the Army Corps of Engineers. “So this is very important because it reminds me that not only did I survive, I still have a purpose. So, this walk means a lot to Black Women and women in general,” Ross said.