Imagine your doctor saying four simple words: “You have breast cancer.”

With more than 40,000 women who lose their fight against the disease each year, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.

Despite the dark side of the disease there is a story of courage and hope.

Survivors, family, and friends were thinking pink as they made strides around the state capitol in a walk for breast cancer awareness Sunday.

The eleventh annual American Cancer Society’s charity event Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a 5K walk that begins and ends at the west steps of the state capitol.

The walk also focuses on celebrating survivorship and making progress toward a future without breast cancer.

“It was an amazing event for breast cancer awareness,” said Maria Robinson, a Sac State graduate now working as the American Cancer Society communications director.

Robinson said this year turnout rose by 20 percent with 16,000 people participating in Making Strides walk, which helped raise more than $700,000.

“The money funds the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer in areas involving research, education, advocacy and patient programs,” she said. “We are able to offer every program free of charge because of events like Making Strides.”

Robinson said Making Strides is a critical event for the American Cancer Society as proceeds are also used toward funding breakthrough breast cancer research.

“I think the walk spreads awareness so women can know that a lot more women can survive than before,” Kimberly Brooks said.

Brooks, who studied dance at Sac State and now works at The Store, watched her mother battle breast cancer after being diagnosed in 1998.

“It was emotionally hard and draining as a family,” she said.

“When I first found out I automatically thought it was a death sentence and my mom was going to die.”

Brooks’ mother ended up in remission after undergoing radiation treatment and a trial testing of a breast cancer drug.

Her mother has been cancer free for nearly nine years.

“I still walk in inspiration for my mom,” Brooks said. “And my sister and I walk because we are at risk for breast cancer.” The American Cancer Society estimates nearly 200,000 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007.

Their research shows the chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8.

The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35 however breast cancer death rates are going down, which the American Cancer Society attributes to finding the cancer earlier and advances in treatment.

Brooks said she retains inspiration from breast cancer patients and survivors because the walk is symbolic of their journey through the disease and a story of survival.

“Sometimes you just want to quit, but when you walk through the finish line it makes it all worth while,” she said.

Lana Saipaia can be reached at [email protected]