‘No one has to walk this journey alone’: Over 300 iKalingas rally behind cancer warriors and survivors

FEATURE

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – More than 300 registrants and hundreds of supporters dressed in pink took to the streets of Tabuk City on October 24, sending a message of solidarity to cancer warriors and survivors: they do not have to face the journey alone.

The Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Fun Walk, organized by the Kalinga Cancer Care Ministry Inc. (KCCMI), brought together individuals, offices, and organizations to honor those battling cancer, celebrate survivors, and remind the community of the importance of compassion and support.

Participants walked from M Hotel in Appas to the Tabuk City Gymnasium in Dagupan Centro as part of the province’s observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

But beyond the pink shirts and the collective steps, the activity carried a deeper message—that while cancer may bring pain, fear, and uncertainty, no one should have to face the battle without a community standing beside them.

Welcoming the participants, KCCMI President Juliet Bartolome emphasized that the event was not only about raising awareness but also about giving hope to those whose lives have been affected by cancer.

“To our fellow survivors and warriors, we honor you today. Your courage inspires us. Your stories give hope. And your presence reminds us that a cancer diagnosis does not define a person – it is only one chapter in a much greater story,” she expressed.

For cancer warriors and survivors, the support of family, friends, and the wider community can be a source of strength through the difficult stages of diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Bartolome stressed that while awareness can help save lives, cancer patients and survivors also need understanding, compassion, and support throughout their journey.

“Let us be a community where no one has to walk this journey alone,” she said.

The message resonated throughout the gathering, where people from different walks of life came together not only to show support but also to recognize the courage of those living with cancer and those who have survived it.

The Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO), through Non-Communicable Disease Coordinator Frances Reggie Ramirez, reaffirmed its continuing support for KCCMI and its efforts to assist cancer patients and survivors in Kalinga.

Ramirez also urged the public to undergo cancer screening, particularly those experiencing symptoms, emphasizing that prevention and early detection can save lives.

The activity concluded with a Zumba session and community dance, ending the gathering on a note of unity and hope.

For the iKalingas who joined the walk, every step was a reminder that raising awareness is only part of the fight against cancer. Standing with those affected, offering compassion, and encouraging early detection are equally important in building a community where no cancer warrior or survivor has to face the journey alone.