(L) Ed Troche and his daughter, Kelly with (R) Nilda Rivera and Stephanie Márquez-Villafañe at the 2016 Lung Cancer Awareness Flag Raising at City Hall *File Photos by Paul W. Wang

On Saturday, May 13, 2017, the United Messengers of Peace will hold their first Lung Cancer Awareness March at 11 a.m. and you still have time to participate. (see ad, p. 3. in the print edition of the Amboy Guardian for more info or click here.)

Stephanie Márquez-Villafañe, the President of the organization and her mother, Nilda Rivera stress how this is the most devastating form of cancer. which affected them when a few years ago, lung cancer took the life of a loved one (Raul Torres).

Until they brought this devastating disease to life, it was not well known that lung cancer kills more people than the three most well known cancers  combined (Colon and Rectal cancer, Breast cancer and Pancreatic cancer).

Lung Cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer and more than 3 times as many men as prostate cancer. Yet, Lung Cancer research gets the least amount of funding.

Haydee Bermudez
*Photo Submitted

This year, there will be a special individual that will be recognized who is battling this horrible disease: Haydee Bermudez who is now in Stage 4 Lung Cancer.

There were a few issues where the walkers were initially to use the sidewalks on Smith Street. At the 4/26/17 Council Meeting, it was decided that the streets will be blocked off for the march.

At that meeting, Stephanie made an impassioned plea for the walkers to be able utilize the City Streets from Smith Street to City Hall Circle and to proceed down to St. Peter’s Church on Rector Street.

Lung Cancer Awareness Flag designed by Stephanie Márquez-Villafañe

Stephanie stated, “That will be difficult for myself and others that have to use a walking aide to maneuver around shoppers on the sidewalks.”

Police Chief Roman McKeon told Stephanie, “We’ll make it happen. I’ll also be marching.”

After Stephanie spoke, Haydee Bermudez’s son, Anthony became emotional when he spoke of the gratitude that he owes Stephanie and her mother, Nilda for recognizing his mother and her struggles with this terrible disease.

Hopefully this event attracts the attention of local, State and National Politicians to advocate to increase more funding into lung cancer research. Thank you United Messengers of Peace. C.M.