ESCANABA — The Sixth Annual Pink Pumpkin Walk/Run, a breast cancer awareness event, will be held Saturday in Ludington Park. Registration starts at 9 a.m. in the pavilion and the walk/run begins at 10 a.m. Participants have three routes to choose — one-mile, two-mile, and a five-kilometer. The event will be held rain or shine.

The fee for the event includes a pink pumpkin t-shirt and draw string goodie bag. There will also be a bucket and 50/50 raffles.

“We have approximately 25 runners and twice as many walkers,” said Joy McKnight, founder of the Pink Pumpkin Walk.

Friday is the last day to purchase a “pink pumpkin” to honor someone who has been impacted by breast cancer. The pumpkins will be placed along the run/walk route and can be taken home by the purchaser at the end of the event. Anyone wishing to purchase a pink pumpkin should call or text 906-280-4169.

This year’s speaker will be Maureen Cary, a breast cancer survivor, who was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer with lymph-node involvement in 2011 when she was 30 years old.

“I received 20 weeks of chemo followed by a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction,” said McKnight, “I am a seven and a half year survivor.”

In 2012 she decided to give back to the community and started the Pink Pumpkin event.

“The Delta County Cancer Alliance helped me with my appointments to Green Bay,” said McKnight. “They alleviated the price of travel.”

“You never forget that phone call. It’s life changing. You learn to appreciate everything more, including sunrises, the wind, the birds, the sunshine on your skin, children’s laughter, your caregivers, and the kindness of strangers. You learn to slow down. Not everything about cancer is bad,” said McKnight.

After the walk/run, raffle winners will be announced. There will also be kids face painting, a bake sale, photo booth, and information about breast cancer, breast cancer resources. A lunch option will also be available.

Funds raised at the event will go to Delta County Cancer Alliance, Inc.

The support received for breast cancer awareness has advanced diagnosis and treatmentsand increased survival rates. The number of deaths associated with breast cancer is steadily declining, due to earlier detection, personalized approaches to treatment and a better understanding, according to mayoclinic.org.

After skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women.