Please read this message from Denis Ducey, a former parent at Assumption school, a current parishioner and great support to our school. Because his wife, Marnelle, had breast cancer, he is a great supporter of breast cancer awareness.
Every year, October is designated as BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. This effort obviously calls our attention to the scourge and harm that breast cancer and all cancers have done to our families, communities, and country. The facts are alarming. Over 2 million people in the US will incur cancer in 2025, and of that number nearly 375,000 will be breast cancer in women. Sadly, over 42,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2025. These statistics are not somewhere "out there." No, they happen with the women in our families and friends in our communities. As frightening as the reality of cancer is, it is not a death sentence. The scientific and medical community continues to do herculean work to bring about the day when breast cancer will no longer be a killing disease. Yes, women will live long, beneficial lives with proper treatment and care. This is now happening, but more still needs to be done. EARLY DETECTION, ALONG WITH PROPER TREATMENT AND CARE, is changing the landscape of breast cancer. This can only happen with society's growing awareness of this cancer and all cancers.
The American Cancer Society and several other organizations are working hard to support cancer patients, so they can continue to survive and thrive. Growing awareness, proper and healthy living, early detection, and having the best treatment available are the keys.
For the last 20-plus years, Denis Ducey, who lost his wife Marelle Vieira-Ducey to breast cancer in 2005, has teamed with Assumption School and Assumption parishioners in the yearly Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk. This year's walk will be held on Sunday, Oct 19, at 1 Warnor Way in San Francisco, right next to the Chase Arena. Marnelle's last walk was the 2005 Strides in Golden Gate Park. She bravely faced her breast cancer for over 6 years, but the cancer kept coming back, ultimately metastasizing throughout her body.
Following are some extracts from Denis' and Marnelle's story.
I have walked and championed the MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER walk for over 25 years now. and many of you have journeyed with me along the way. After all these years, I sometimes ponder "well, maybe by now I have done enough to spread awareness about the scourge of cancer, as well as, to help raise funds to develop new cures and treatments, to promote the efforts to reach the marginalized, thus preventing cancers, and to spread the many programs that support cancer patients and their caregivers. Let others pick up the torch going forward.' Then I say, WHAT? That is crazy thinking! I will NOT stop.
I recall, while Marnelle lived with and battled her cancer bravely and courageously for over six years, she always walked to support the work of the American Cancer Society in their efforts and programs to find cures. treatments. preventions, and to provide services for cancer victims and their families. As mentioned previously, Marnelle's last walk was in October 2005, two months before she left us on Dec. 15. Marnelle never said, "I can't walk." No, she got up and moved forward. MARNELLE ALWAYS WALKED! If she did, so can I, and so can my family and friends, especially from Assumption School and Parish in San Leandro. That's why l've joined the 2025 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 19, at Thrive City, 1 Warriors Way, In San Francisco. I and thousands of supporters will walk to honor survivors and thrivers from breast cancer, to remember those we ve lost, to offer support to anyone in our community who's been affected by cancer, and to hasten the day when breast cancer and all cancers will no longer be killing diseases
As long as I am able, I will walk and continue Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. One day, the damn diseases of breast cancer and all cancers will be no more.
The funds I and others are raising will sustain critical research (now more than ever) and provide services for patients coping with their breast cancer and other cancers. While cancer patients are strongly supported, their families and caregivers are likewise. Believe me, every dollar raised really does count, so I'm asking you to please donate today.
Please click this link to get to my page: https://tinyurl.com/Marnelle2025
Together, we can make a big difference in the fight against breast cancer and all cancers. THANK YOU!