Norway walk to raise breast cancer awareness

The fourth-annual breast cancer awareness walk will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 192 Tyler Road in the Edwardtown community in Norway.

The theme is “Drum Majors of Hope””

Gifted by Tonya will host the event, which will include the participation of food, arts and crafts vendors and an estimated 40 breast cancer survivors.

“I’m excited. just can’t wait to greet everybody and just have a good time. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. I get real excited just to see the community come together, and then in our little small community where I grew up. That means a lot,” event organizer Tonya James said.

She has had friends and family, many of whom live in the Edwardtown community, who have been personally touched by breast cancer.

This year’s speaker, North native Deirdre Mack, is a breast cancer survivor and a member of James’ church.

“I have an aunt in that community, I have two first cousins, and now Deirdre’s on my team. She’s also facing cancer. So definitely lots of family and church members. It’s very prevalent in the Norway community,” James said.

“We have people coming out to just get more information. We want to be able to provide resources, just getting in a place where they can get the help they need,” she said.

James is expecting approximately 350 people to participate in this year’s event.

Breast cancer survivors are asked to pre-register online via the Gifted by Tonya Facebook page at www.facebook.com/giftedbytonya by Oct. 5. Others are asked to register onsite at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12.

The Promise Land band will be performing, as will special guest singer Emily Holiday. During the event, Mack, who lives in Neeses, will speak about her breast cancer journey.

James said the event will also feature a kids zone, which will feature activities including games, face painting and balloon twisting.

“We’re also going to have a special VIP area for our senior citizens. We’re going to have a tent for them in case it’s sunny, so they won’t be in the sun. We’ll have vendors that will be out there showing off their products. We’ll also have a health fair,” James said.

The walk will be approximately one mile.

For more information regarding the walk, contact James at 803-664-0101.