Susan G. Komen 'More Than Pink Walk' returns to LA after hiatus due to pandemic

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Following a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Susan G. Komen foundation on Saturday hosted the return of the "More Than Pink Walk" to Los Angeles to raise money to support breast cancer treatment and research.

"One of the great things about this event is it means that you don't feel alone," Izzy Strong, a breast cancer survivor and fundraiser, told ABC7.

"When you have cancer, you often can feel quite lonely," Strong said, speaking near the start of the walk at L.A. Live in downtown. "But when you get together with a group of people like this, men and women who are survivors and thrivers, it really helps you to feel not alone."

The event was also a time to celebrate big wins for many survivors.

Annette Crump, a 63-year-old who survived breast cancer twice, learned she surpassed her goal of raising more than $25,000 for the Susan G. Komen foundation, placing her among the top three fundraisers Saturday.

"It's a stressful thing to go through," said Crump. "It's hard to talk about cancer. People don't want to talk about it so much."

ABC7 anchor Jovana Lara hosted Saturday's event and got emotional when she spoke about her sister, whom she lost to breast cancer.

Also among Saturday's 2,000 walkers was Gretchen McCabe, a 49-year-old mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August. She underwent surgery just last week.

"There's so many people who have missed their mammograms and with COVID, people skipped them," she said. "It is so important to continue to get checked up on, and if something doesn't feel right, pursue it."

Though the event is festive for many, it's also reflective.

At the memorial tent, people wrote touching tributes for those they've lost to the disease.

The Susan G. Komen foundation estimates more than 43,000 women, and more than 500, will die this year.

The foundation is hoping fundraising efforts and informational events will save lives.

"I believe in the mission," said Crump. "I believe in the community they create. I believe in the money and where they put it."