The Annual Breast Cancer Walk was held at Whiteville Park on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The park was filled with people who were there to walk for a cure for cancer. Along with cancer survivors, there were family members and friends to show support for the many people who have been recently diagnosed with cancer, those who have been living with cancer, and those who have died from cancer.
“The worst words you can hear from your doctors are, ‘You have breast cancer’!” I am thankful too. I had support from friends and my church family. You can survive it,” said Patricia Crisp, am eight year cancer survivor.
Angelous Simmons, who is the Town of Whiteville City Recorder, organized the event in a personal capacity. She shared that the event was in support of people who have been affected by cancer like her aunt, Patricia Crisp. Ms. Simmons gave recognition to those who have been affected by cancer.
” . . . look at us, we rise and stand. Survivors strong, hand in hand. We walk for hope, we walk for a cure our love our faith will long endure. And for the ones we’ve lost, we say your light still guides us on this day,” said Ms. Simmons.
Attendees included several residents from Whiteville as well as others from Madison and Haywood Counties.
Survivors shared their stories of their cancer journeys. Cassandra Bufford is a nurse whose cancer journey started in 2018. Although Bufford knew all the right steps to take regarding self-care and early cancer detection, she did not follow through with the same message she tells her patients, “get your mammogram every year.” Bufford had abnormal mammograms in the past, so when she felt a lump in her breast, she was not alarmed and delayed getting a mammogram.
“When he told me I had breast cancer, that scared me,” said Bufford whose mother died from breast cancer in 1992 at the age of 53. “I feared the worst! I cried and I prayed for two weeks. I didn’t tell my family, because I didn’t want them to worry about me.”
While driving home from work one day, Bufford was stopped at a red light at Walmart and heard a clear message from God, “I got you!”
“Since that day, I’ve had peace. No more worries, no more fear,” said Bufford, who was diagnosed with stage two cancer, grade three.
“Make sure you listen to your doctor and make sure the doctor listens to you,” said Bufford. “Make sure you eat healthy and stay active. The best advice the doctor gave me was to stay active. A healthy lifestyle is important to help prevent breast cancer. Early detection is always the key for prevention and detection. Don’t wait until you get sick to go to the doctor.”
Retina Robinson went to her yearly mammogram and did not receive the regular letter confirming everything was fine.
“At that time, my mind was telling me something is not right,” said Robinson.
Robinson was later asked to come in to the doctor’s office for her results where she learned her cancer diagnosis.
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The walk was one of community, fun, and hope. Participants completed the 5K walk with six laps around Whiteville Park. Cheerleaders provided encouragement for walkers.
Simmons hopes the event was one of encouragement and motivation for people to take good care of themselves. She has been on a personal health journey watching everything she eats and how it makes her feel.
“We don’t take time for ourselves. Just to self-care and slow down. Stop and take care of your body. Look at what you’re eating. I think about everything I eat before putting it in my mouth. How it will affect me and how it is making me fee,” said Simmons. “It’s so important going to get a mammogram even though we don’t like that process. It’s simple early detection letting you know hey you need to stop doing, this, this, and this. Before you have to have all of these treatments that cause even worse side effects from you having a happy life. That’s the most important thing.”
