SIDNEY – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is similar in a way to Relay for Life, but different because it raises awareness and money specifically for the second leading cause of cancer death in women.

In 2015, approximately 231,840 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States and 40,290 will die.

To decrease this number, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of the Northern Miami Valley will be holding an event on the courthouse square in downtown Sidney on Oct. 24.

On Thursday the group held its kickoff event to get teams together and gather interest in the cause. Starting now, teams will start fundraising in preparation for October’s event.

Discussed Thursday were many ways to fund raise, including selling T-shirts and rubber bracelets, collecting change in empty water bottles, holding a poker tournament, or asking local business to donate portions of their proceeds to your group one evening.

Some teams signed up Thursday, but it’s not too late; making a team is as easy as visiting makingstrideswalk.org. Gathering friends, family and co-workers were all ways suggested to make a team to participate in this fundraising event.

At the kickoff event, several survivors and caregivers shared their stories. Among them were Patti Condi, who has been cancer-free since the end of 2014. She said cancer is like a spiderweb in the way it effects everything in your body and everybody in your life.

Condi talked about how everyone in the room was brought together by something that wanted to kill them or someone they loved.

She said that by using the American Cancer Society website she learned about support groups and the cancer research that was being done. Condi said this event is all about loving, caring and giving.

The event in October will start at courthouse square and walk to Tawawa Park and back. It will feature entertainment, information on the cause, and merchandise to purchase.

Currently, $86 million is invested in breast cancer research grants in the United States, and with the help of Making Strides participants and the people who donate, they hope to get rid of the American Cancer Society, because that means a cure for cancer was found.

So far, Making Strides of the Northern Miami Valley has raised $3,313.84 with 13 teams registered. The goal for this event is $50,000.

For more information, visit makingstrideswalk.org or contact community organizer Jesse Purcell at (888) 227-6446, ext. 5217.