As long as we keep a positive outlook on life, there is always hope in the fight against breast cancer.

That was one of the key messages conveyed during the 16th annual Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club Pink Light Walk held Tuesday at the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band Hall.

About 200 participants took part in the event, according to Alicia Silliman, of the chairpeople for the event.

Beth Ritter-Guth, bagpipe player, led the walk, which began at the band hall and proceeded to the Lehighton Park Amphitheater.

Silliman welcomed those in attendance at the amphitheater and joked that everyone thought it was bad when they experienced the Facebook outage on Monday.

“I don’t think that journey is anything in comparison to what our survivors have been through,” Silliman said on a serious note. “We’re here tonight to (create) breast cancer awareness and to chat about the effect research has had.”

Kim Gerhard, owner of Perfect Balance Boutique in Lehighton, and a one-time breast cancer survivor, spoke about being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

“At the time I felt it destroyed my life,” Gerhard said. “When I was going through the surgeries, I just felt no one was listening to me.”

Gerhard said that when she went to visit her sister in North Carolina, she learned there were mastectomy products out there.

“I knew this is what I wanted to do is bring a boutique to Lehighton and educate women that there are other things than plastic surgery,” she said. “The first year was really hard when we opened the boutique.”

That all changed once a client came in to Gerhard’s shop.

“A client came in and told me how much I changed her life, and I figured this is what I’m supposed to be doing,” she said. “Now, almost three years later, I have women traveling 2½ hours just to be fitted at the boutique.”

Gerhard explained her current mission.

“Right now, we’re educating doctors and nurse navigators on what women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are entitled to because there’s so much when you’re diagnosed with breast cancer,” she said. “Some women are just not able to have plastic surgery or reconstruction; they need to know there are other things out there.”

Gerhard said things are going well, all things considered.

“Right now, I’m cancer free,” she said. “There’s still some issues lingering, but other than that, I’m doing well.”

As part of the ceremony, breast cancer survivors were recognized, with each stating their name and how long they have been a survivor.

While at the amphitheater, each survivor was encouraged to share their journey.

Silliman said about 15 cancer survivors registered.

Survivors who were interested were able to have their photo taken for the 2021 Carbon County Breast Cancer Survivor’s Wall, which will be posted on Facebook.

There was also an “In the Pink” basket raffle at the band hall, and the “Pink Heals” ambulance was present to show support for all those who have or have had breast cancer.

A donation to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition was made in honor of all survivors who participated in the walk.

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants.

There was no charge to register or participate in the walk. Each participant who registered received a pink glow bracelet and each survivor received a glow bracelet and small gift. Light refreshments were available for all participants.

For more information about the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, visit pabreastcancer.org.

In addition to the coalition, the Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club supports many community and Lions projects annually.

Club meetings are generally held at 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of each month at the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band Hall.