Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Cincinnati's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk as raising the second-most nationally; that distinction applies to the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. WCPO regrets this error.
CINCINNATI -- If the sheer number of people doesn't convince you of all the good being done, there's this: The Real Men Wear Pink campaign, raising money for breast cancer research and support services, raised the second-highest total in the country this year.
Nearly 20,000 people walked along the downtown Cincinnati riverfront Saturday morning as part of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, another of the Tri-State's annual events in the fight against breast cancer.
@AmericanCancer Making Strides walk is officially underway! @WCPO pic.twitter.com/9XkcPD2R74
— Kristen Swilley (@KristenSwilley) October 22, 2016
Cincinnati's 5-kilometer walk started at Yeatman's Cove. Nationally, Making Strides is the largest one-day walk to raise awareness and funds in the fight against breast cancer.
Cincinnati raised about $580,000 this year.
The Real Men Wear Pink campaign, which gets men involved in the fundraising effort, brought in nearly $102,000 -- smashing organizers' hopes of bringing in $10,000. It was the first year the American Cancer Society put together a Real Men Wear Pink campaign in Cincinnati. The fundraiser brought in the second-most money nationally, behind only Boston.
WCPO meteorologist Jason Adams and WCPO contributor John Fay, the only TV media volunteers, raised a combined $9,000 for the Real Men Wear Pink campaign.
Real men wear pink! @JasonWCPO @WCPO pic.twitter.com/e6qAxkvHqE
— Kathrine Nero (@NeroWCPO) October 22, 2016
The Real Men Wear Pink fundraising dollars will stay in the Tri-State, going toward breast cancer research, providing transportation and temporary lodging for chemotherapy patients, programs to help women feel beautiful while undergoing chemotherapy, and working to end breast cancer.
Since 1993, more than 12 million supporters have raised more than $750 million nationwide through Making Strides walks. The money goes toward breast cancer research, life-saving education, and critical patient services.
#Makingstrides @WCPO with @EvanMillward @JEGenovese @GriffinFrank @AllyKraemer @SZak2 @WCPOLibby @Sherry_Hughes pic.twitter.com/uMBtNx1Ece
— Carol Williams (@CarolWCPO) October 22, 2016
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 246,660 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,450 will die from the disease this year.
WCPO is a sponsor of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.
