West Deer police organizing breast cancer 5K: Disease 'is one we can try to prevent’

West Deer police Sgt. Rob Petosky wears his pink with pride.

For 13 years, he has helped to organize the township’s 5K Run/Walk to raise funds to fight breast cancer, which is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women.

“When people can’t afford to go and have a mammogram, it hits close to your heart,” said Petosky, a township officer since 2001.

“This is one that we can try to prevent.”

The fundraiser steps off Sept. 14 in Bairdford Park. T-shirts for this year’s walk are emblazoned with a pink Wonder Woman logo entwined with a fight cancer ribbon.

Proceeds benefit Adagio Health, a wellness provider that serves 62 counties across the state. The nonprofit oversees state-funded breast and cervical cancer screenings at no cost to income-eligible patients.

“If people don’t have insurance, or not-so-good insurance, they can go and get a free mammogram,” Petosky said.

For Petosky, the walkathon has become a family affair. His wife and nieces participate, along with friends and other family.

Last year’s walk brought in more than $5,400.

According to the American Cancer Society, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer is about 13%, or 1 in 8.

The diseases usually strikes middle-aged women, with about 310,700 new cases of invasive breast cancer expected to be diagnosed this year.

Founded by Deer Lakes graduate Terri-Ann Gizienski-Ulewicz and her husband, Tom, the 5K Run/Walk has grown throughout the years to draw more than 100 people.

“We were trying to get the community more active and bring awareness to breast cancer, which is my passion as I am a breast radiologist,” Gizienski-Ulewicz said. She is chief of the Clinical Breast Division of UPMC.

“We are extremely proud of the growth of the event and the positive impact it has on our community as the women from West Deer have directly benefited from the money which has been raised,” she said. “It is truly a team effort with many individuals and volunteers working hard to have such a great event.”

The event serves as a kickoff to the West Deer Festival, a two-day celebration that includes rides, stilt-walking clowns, a magic show, hay rides, a petting zoo, karaoke and a pie-eating contest.

“I enjoy seeing the faces that turn out every year,” Petosky said. “It’s nice that it’s near and dear to their hearts, as it is mine.”