THE WALK
Steppin' Out in Pink is a non-competitive fundraising walk for all ages and abilities. It raises money to support breast cancer research at Gundersen Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care. The research being done at Gundersen will change the way breast cancer is treated locally and nationally.
WHERE WE STARTED
Patty Brown was being treated for breast cancer at Gundersen Health System 19 years ago when she got an idea for a local breast cancer fundraising walk. "The idea was more than a little crazy. It was a lot crazy," she says. But that didn't stop Patty. In the midst of treatment, sick and exhausted, she made her way to Robyn Tanke's office in Gundersen Medical Foundation. "I knew if I talked to my friend Robyn, she would tell me whether my idea would ever fly." And fly? You better believe it! The idea, which our community affectionately knows as Steppin' Out in Pink, has grown beyond measure in its 17 years of existence.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
Steppin' Out in Pink will continue to support breast cancer research and patient support programs. Starting in 2022 we began to assist with the Kabara Cancer Research Institute Endowment Fund ($10 million goal). Growing this endowment will ensure Gundersen-based cancer research for generations to come. Our mission will always stay the same, we continue to walk with our survivors and remember those that we've lost.
Listen to the Steppin' Out in Pink Podcast hosted by Around River City
This is the first of 3 episodes focused on Steppin' Out in Pink and the good it does right here in our community. Did you know that the work Dr. Kenny and his team does is shared around the world and is also used to help patients right here at home? You'll hear what drives Dr. Kenny to devote his career to breast cancer research here at Gundersen Medical Foundation La Crosse.
Dr. Dietrich is an Oncologist at Gundersen Health System, specializing in breast cancer. But there's more to her story. Listen for a great conversation about perspective and how life can change.
There's love of all kinds on display in the wonderful conversation with Emily and Dave Hansen. Emily is a breast cancer survivor, a mom, a wife, and a real dynamo. She and Dave share the truly frightening things that they went through together but also the good things that this experience has bought to their lives. Yeah, it's about breast cancer but it's really a love story.