UMA Staff and Students Make ‘Strides’ to Fight Breast Cancer

TAMPA, Fla., November 14, 2013 –In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, approximately 300 employees, students and family members of Ultimate Medical Academy participated in two separate “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walks in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 19. Between them, the two UMA teams raised $8,329.86, well over the combined goal of $5,000.

Ultimate Medical Academy’s teams ranked as the second highest company fundraiser in the St. Petersburg walk and the ninth highest company fundraiser in the Tampa walk. The UMA community pitched in by supporting the fundraising events in the weeks leading up to the walk with raffles, bake sales, a hamburger and hot dog picnic, and a “Bling the Accessories” event, in which walk participants accessorized the pink clothing they planned to wear during the walk with sequins, feathers, glitter and more.

The Tampa and St. Petersburg walks were two in a network of nearly 300 “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walks organized this month by the American Cancer Society. The money raised from the events will be used to raise awareness of breast cancer and help people reduce their risk of breast cancer, fund research of new treatments and a potential cure, provide free information and services to those facing breast cancer, and to ensure access to mammograms to women who need it.

Several members of the UMA “Making Strides” team have been touched by breast cancer themselves and they walked in honor or remembrance of friends or family members affected by this disease.

As an established provider of healthcare training and degree programs, UMA’s students and staff recognize the grave threat posed by breast cancer to women everywhere and the need to develop advanced treatments and work toward a cure.

“Several of our team members took turns carrying the UMA banner along the entire walk on the St. Pete walk,” said Linda Weldon, Senior Vice President of Academics and Community Relations at UMA. “It was impressive and even more impressive is the enthusiasm with which this event was embraced by the whole UMA community.  It was a proud day for UMA and a real testament to what we can do when we work together as a team!”

Donations for either the St. Petersburg or Tampa Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events are still being accepted online. Just visit main.acsevents.org and search by event or team.