Palm Desert: ‘Paint El Paseo Pink Walk’ aims to raise money for cancer detection and treatment

The Desert Cancer Foundation will hold its sixth annual “Paint El Paseo Pink Walk” on Saturday Oct. 13 in Palm Desert.

(Contributed image)

The foundation hopes to raise $150,000 — $100,000 more than last year –to fund breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for people in the Coachella Valley.

The walk starts at 9:30 a.m. at The Gardens on El Paseo, between San Pablo Avenue and Larkspur Lane.

People can sign up online or at the event starting at 8 a.m. in front of Saks Fifth Avenue on El Paseo, according to the foundation.

Individual entries and teams are welcome.

“Our organization was formed to provide cancer treatment for people who do not have the financial means to treat cancer,” Executive Director of of the Desert Cancer Foundation, Louise Fasana explained. “Very few organizations actually pay medical bills for people who don’t have insurance or the financial ability to treat cancer.”

Fasana added that all of the money raised stays in the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas to specifically help the people of the desert communities.

“One of the main goals of the ‘Paint El Paseo Pink Walk’ is to raise money to to provide people with free mammograms and any other diagnostic breast screenings,” she said. “If there is a finding we will help pay biopsies and treatment.”

Local television talk show host Pattie Daly Caruso, a breast cancer survivor, will emcee the walk. Palm Desert City Councilwoman Jan Harnik, a cervical cancer survivor, is serving as the honorary chairwoman.

“The Desert Cancer Foundation provides critical breast cancer screenings at no cost to women who cannot afford them,” Harnik said. “It’s so important to take control of our health and have this done regularly. I have four daughters and have taught all of them how important this is.”

Nearly 450 women received free screenings last year and more than 630 diagnostic services were provided, according to Fasana.

The $20 per person walk registration fee includes a T-shirt. Pink bandannas for dogs are $10.

To register, go to www.firstgiving.com. For more information, call 760-773-6554 or visit www.desertcancerfoundation.org.

Stephanie D. Schulte is a writer/photographer with SWRNN.  She can be reached at stephanie.schulte@swrnn.com.

*City News Service contributed to this report.