Fourth annual Pink Out Breast Cancer Walk in the Oranges

Photo by Chris Sykes
Annette Robinson, seated, and, standing, from left, Darlene Sample and cancer survivor Cynthia Singleton came out to participate in the fourth annual Pink Out for the Oranges Breast Cancer Walk from Elmwood Park in East Orange to Monte Irvin Orange Park in Orange on Saturday, Oct. 14.

ORANGE/EAST ORANGE, NJ — Brantley Brothers Moving Company hosted its fourth annual “Pink Out” for the Orange Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday, Oct. 14.

This year’s event was sponsored by East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor and Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren, in addition to Sneak Life Enterprises and AAngels NJ. Participants were asked donate to the American Cancer Society, to support the walk, which began in Orange, traveled to East Orange and ended up back in Orange at Monte Irvin Orange Park on Central Avenue.

“In Orange, we started on Oakwood Avenue, Central and Oakwood, Monte Irvin Park from Orange and then we walked all the way to Oak Street and Elmwood Park in East Orange, and then back from Elmwood Avenue, all the way back here to Oakwood and Central Avenue and Orange Monte Irvin Park,” said Annette Robinson on Saturday, Oct. 14. They had a stage, they had a V.I.P. tent, they had vendors and they had quite a large crowd. It was a big turnout.”

Robinson said her mother had died from cancer years ago and she tries to support cancer survivors and the ongoing effort to find a cure for the disease by participating in events such as this year’s walk.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing that they do each year and I’m proud of these ladies behind me, the survivors, because they’re here to attest to it,” Robinson said. “I’d like for anyone that did not participate in today’s event, or could not participate in it, or did not know about it to know that, if you can’t walk, you can always volunteer your services, which is what I did to support the cause. That’s what I do. I’m trying to help out in the community wherever I can and, like I said, it’s a good walk, a good fight. I wish I’d known a long time ago about the walk for breast cancer or any type of cancer. I’m just happy to be here today.”

Cynthia Singleton, a cancer survivor was diagnosed with lymphoma of the blood, also participated in the Pink Out event. She  said the volunteer efforts by Robinson and others are more than enough.  

“I’ve never come to this before and this is my first time, because I’m under a doctor’s care. But right now, I’m not walking for any cancer, but I’m going to stop cancer with a vengeance,” said Singleton on Saturday, Oct. 14. “I’m in remission for 13 years, but my doctor cleared me. No, I wasn’t OK to walk today, because my feet are under doctor’s care, but I just met everybody up here. I think they’re doing a very good cause because, if we didn’t have the people, we wouldn’t have anybody to fight for us. We can’t really fight. We can speak, but cancer takes a lot away from you.”

Singleton said she came out to the Pink Out to “rock out for cancer” and really appreciated the walkers, including Darlene Sample, who came dressed in a full, carnival-style, pink outfit, including feathers and a mask, to walk for a good cause. Sample, on the other hand, said she decided to walk to show her appreciation of Singleton and other cancers survivors and solidarity with others that are literally fighting for their lives against the disease.

“I was late and I walked all the way there and caught up with them. I caught up with them and made it there and was able to walk back with them,” said Sample on Saturday, Oct. 14. “I’m not a cancer survivor, but my mom, Shirley Sample, died … in 1988 from breast cancer and my son, Ricky Negron, is 37 years old and right now has cancer. He’s a piece of work, but I’d rather for him to be a piece of work rather than for him to just lay down and give in to it. So I’m still dealing with cancer.”