More than 150 members of the community joined in the 19th Annual West End Pink Light Walk at Chestnuthill Township Park on Tuesday night.

Kathie Maltez, who has been leading the efforts for several years, said, “I am just the organizer and it really takes an army of volunteers to have a successful event.”

Two women, Mariann Ferro and Kim Mannello from West End Printing/West End Happenings, attended the walk which went from Stroudsburg to East Stroudsburg.

A conversation at work between the two women and a third worker turned into a “why can’t we do this in the West End” and so they did. The original founders, all employees of West End Happenings and West End Printing, enlisted their friends who were involved with Relay For Life, and 19 years ago the West End Pink Light Walk was created.

Nancy Dougherty, one of the founders, is still active in planning. Carmella Heard, a breast cancer survivor and exercise instructor who has led the walkers through a warm up for the past 19 years, is now a coordinator. Deanna Burger and Honi Gruenberg, breast cancer survivors, assist.

“They all have their personal reasons for bringing the Pink Light Walk to the West End, said Gruenberg, the longest cancer free survivor of the group.

Between a basket raffle and donations, the walk raised over $900, Maltez said.

“We will be making a donation to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, The American Cancer Society and to the Chestnuthill Township Park,” she said.

They will also keep some of those dollars raised to help a family in need and to purchase survivor gifts for next year’s 20th anniversary Pink Light Walk.