A flurry of pink-clad fans watched Concord High School’s football team prevail over Windham Friday night, supporting the team but also drawing attention to breast cancer.

Concord cheerleaders wore pink to raise awareness as well.

Oct. 1 marked the beginning of the 39th Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a massive effort to raise awareness for treatment and a cure. But even with dedication to awareness over the years, the American Cancer Society says it’s still the most common cancer for women in the U.S., minus skin cancers.

American Cancer Society statistics show that roughly 310,720 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024, with an additional 56,500 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or stage zero breast cancer, diagnosed. Around 42,250 women will die of the disease this year.

Breast cancer typically affects middle-aged and older women with a median age at diagnosis of 62, according to the society. U.S. women have a 1 in 8 chance of developing the disease during their lifetime.

While these facts can be worrisome, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer provides hope. The walk will step off from Memorial Field at 70 S. Fruit St., Concord on Sunday, Oct. 27. The event starts at 11 a.m. with an opening at 12:30 p.m. The walk begins at 1 p.m.

This walk is part of a larger national movement – 150 communities throughout the country will host walks during October.

The Concord event has raised nearly $239,000 so far with a goal of $500,000.