More than 1200 people gathered on Sunday August 28th, 2005 at the Detroit Zoo for the second annual NAAMA's Walk for Women's Cancer held by the National Arab American Medical Association benefiting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center . This non competitive walk is aimed to raise public support and awareness for women’s cancer. Cancer survivors, their families and friends, the medical and business communities and the general public from all walks of life marched along the one-mile trails of the zoo, enjoying the beautiful weather and the several musical acts performing along the way.
Due to the success of last year's event, NAAMA's Walk for Women's Cancer has become an annual event; the first of its kind to target women’s cancers in general in Michigan where proceeds from the walk will support the health education and awareness programs of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, home to one of the largest gynecologic oncology practices in the state of Michigan .
Dr. John C. Ruckdeschel, president and CEO of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center asked the crowd at the opening ceremony to "talk about this walk to their friends and families when they go back" with the hope that "within few years this event will become as big as the Race for the Cure"
Mrs. Suzy Farbman spoke on behalf of cancer survivors telling her emotional story about recovering from uterine cancer, she said " I am a living miracle and you the physicians are the miracle workers" she also emphasized the symbolic importance of the walk by saying "here we are together from different backgrounds, but we know who our true enemy is: cancer"
The success of the walk was the fruit of a tremendous team effort by the Michigan chapter of the National Arab American Medical Association and the patient services department at the Karmanos Cancer Institute underscoring the true partnership between the two institutes.
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