The West Augustine CRA Reaches Out to the Community at Cancer Walk

It was an emotional day in West Augustine, as cancer survivors, family members, those who has lost someone to cancer and community members and organizations came out to support at the annual Stay Calm and Walk for Cancer event.

LaShawnda Pinkney organized the event, because she lost her aunt Natalie Garden to cancer, and because of other friends and family members in West Augustine being diagnosed with cancer.

"The Keep Calm and Walk for Cancer Event means bringing awareness to our community by encouraging the fighters, supporting the survivors and remembering the taken. We do this by standing up, standing strong and standing together. The walk is so important to me, because I felt like I had to do something to create awareness in the West Augustine Community, so our community could stop loosing so many of our loved ones," says Pinkney. "My hope and prayer was that if we bring awareness, most could have an alternative care plan to fight but not fight alone."

Betty Griffin Center at the West Augustine Keep Calm & Walk For Cancer walk

The group walked from the Church of God in Christ along West King Street to the Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park escorted by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. 

The turnout for the walk was not as impressive as in the past, but organizations and vendors came out to support the West Augustine CRA in their efforts to shine a light on cancer and support those, who are survivors, those who are currently fighting cancer and to honor those who have lost their lives to the disease. 

At the park music, dance and speakers honored, celebrated and encouraged.

Members of the West Augustine CRA Steering Committee brought positive energy and LaShawnda Pinkney, in charge of Cultural and Quality of Life, Dwala Willis, Co-Chair and Avis Chase, who leads the Economic Development danced, sang and led the event.

LaShawnda Pinkney, Dwala Willis and Avis Chase from the West Augustine CRA.

Daniel Vasquez sang and touched everyone at the event, as he shared his mother's struggle with cancer.

Donneria Z. Kaymore, the community outreach representative from United Healthcare talked about what she does and how she can help.

The West Augustine CRA, the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 194, the American Legion Riders and Team Pinkney served lunch for all of those attending.

Local vendors came out to support, connect and showcase their products.

Felicia Verdell from Verdell's Cooking and Catering brought her food truck to support and engage with her community.

West Augustine's own Lydia White from Lydia's Homemade Baked Goods selling her cakes and talking to customer Anne Marie Butler, a speech-language pathologist, who was also at the event as a vendor.

Pastor Nate Anderson spoke about his experience with losing someone to breast cancer and about how he keeps on going by being thankful for the time he had with them.

The day was about honoring, supporting and encouraging, and about how the community can come together to support each other.

 "I thank the West Augustine CRA Steering Committee, and chairman Robert Nimmons, for the opportunity to have this event every year, says Pinkney, organizer of the Keep Calm and Walk for Cancer. "I'm disappointed in the turnout, especially for a event, which brings awareness. However the awareness, the CRA's mission and the purpose, was fulfilled on yesterday."

"We're not going to stop, because cancer doesn't stop," said Dwala Willis, Co-Chair of the West Augustine CRA Steering Committee.