Seal Beach went pink on Saturday, Oct. 3, for its first Seal Goes Pink Pier Memory Walk to promote breast cancer awareness. The event was held in cooperation with the Pink Journey Foundation.
“We had over 300 people participate in the walk,” wrote city Management Analyst Jennifer Robles.
Many city staff members were present.
At the event, Finance Director Barbara Arenado said no one on city staff was paid to be there.
During the opening ceremony, District Three Councilwoman/Mayor Lisa Landau credited District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal with being the driving force behind the event.
When Senecal got to the podium, she credited Seal Beach city staff with making the event happen.
According to Senecal, pink represents cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, doctors, and nurses.
“As the event Chair of the first City of Seal Beach Pink Pier Walk, I wanted to create a community day to come together and be in the moment of celebrating survivors, honoring the memories of our loved ones, supporting those in treatment, and recognizing the caregivers that support loved ones through the difficult cancer journey of uncertainty,” Senecal wrote in an Oct. 6 email.
“In a world that does not slow down, the walk gives us a pause from the constant demands of daily life. The walk brings us present to reflect, remember, and connect. This was our city’s first Pink Walk for community to share and be strong together. That is the power of the pink spirit: support, caring, remembering,” Senecal wrote
The Seal Beach Police Volunteers in Policing booth offered pink SBPD patches.
Music was provided by Nashville on the Coast. NOTC founder Daren DeLeon spoke about the Pier Memory Walk during the Sept. 28 City Council meeting.
“Breast cancer touches us all,” DeLeon said.
“I’ve had people raise their hands in rooms who’s been touched by it and every hand goes up in every room. And I’m sure the same thing would happen here,” said DeLeon, apparently referring to breast cancer.
“Breast cancer mainly occurs in middle-aged and older women,” according to the American Cancer Society website.
“The median age at the time of breast cancer diagnosis is 63. This means about half of breast cancers are diagnosed at a younger age, and about half are diagnosed at an older age. About 1 in 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than 45.”
The ACS estimates about 321,910 women will be diagnosed in 2026.
“About 42,140 women will die from breast cancer,” the website said.
“There are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the US,” the website said.