Walk, ride or dine to help beat breast cancer
Local activities in October support breast cancer causes.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there are many opportunities for the UF Health community to offer support to those researching, fighting and surviving this disease.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk will be held Saturday, Oct. 22 in downtown Gainesville.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk starts at 9 a.m. Dollars raised enable the ACS to fund groundbreaking breast cancer research; provide free, comprehensive information and support to those touched by the disease; and help people take steps to reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it’s most treatable.
To learn more about the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event or to join a UF Health team, visit makingstrideswalk.org/gainesvillefl and search “UF Health.”
Panera Goes Pink
On Friday, Oct. 7, 100 percent of every Pink Ribbon Bagel sold in Panera’s Gainesville and Ocala cafes will benefit women’s cancer research at UF Health. Flavored with select ingredients, including cherry chips, dried cherries, honey, vanilla and brown sugar, the cherry vanilla bagel is a seasonal staple made especially for the month of October.
To build awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research, Panera offers the opportunity to pre-order Pink Ribbon Bagels. This allows Panera to fulfill the demand for Pink Ribbon Bagels while maximizing the amount raised for UF Health Cancer Center breast cancer research.
Orders can be placed in advance by downloading the pre-order form at UFHealth.org/pinkbagels and dropping it off at your local Panera.

Pink Pumpkin Pedal-Off
Local community breast cancer survivor Barb Thomas and cancer supporter Barb Wills unite annually to put on the Pink Pumpkin Pedal-Off, a charity bike-ride throughout scenic Gainesville. Proceeds from the event go to support UF researchers at a grassroots level with their fight against breast cancer. Last year the event raised $35,000.
On Saturday, Oct. 1, riders will have their choice of three different routes: 22, 40 or 62.5 miles. All three routes include a tour of the UF campus, Gainesville’s restored depot and historic areas and the traffic-free Gainesville Hawthorne Trail.
To join a team or support the event by purchasing a Pink Ribbon Jersey, visit PinkPumpkinPedalOff.org.