[ad_1]
PHILADELPHIA — It’s the start of breast cancer awareness month and a Philadelphia non-profit set out to “paint the streets pink” in awareness.
Traci Smith, the founder of Traci’s Bio: Beautiful Inside and Out, hosted the third annual Breast Cancer Community Day at Malcolm X Park in West Philadelphia Saturday.
She, more than most people, understands how important community is to survival.
“When I was going through breast cancer, I had a wonderful support team, but I needed a little bit more. I needed someone who has actually walked the journey to actually describe to me what it felt like,” she said. “We don’t take our health seriously enough, we just don’t and I just thought it was important that we have a day of celebration.”
The day included an awareness walk, community fair, and featured vendors, including Philadelphia’s health commissioner.
“This is a disease that can end up making you feel so helpless and so alone so putting this together in the community shows that we’re all collective, we’re all neighbors and we’re all working together,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson.
Traci’s non-profit is based in West Philadelphia, but rather than have people come to her, for this event, she wanted to go to the community. She brought all of these vendors to the park to show what resources are available to those fighting breast cancer.
Vendors like Sasha Ortiz of Pink Promises & DME lined the park to help those in need get scarves, wigs, bras, and care packages.
“My grandmother, she had breast cancer, I have an aunt who has breast cancer and just being a part of this now and meeting so many women, I see the lack of care that’s in this healthcare system,” said Ortiz.
It’s a system they’re trying to change by showing the power of sisterhood.
“Breast cancer is not a death sentence,” said Traci.
[ad_2]