The streets of Lehighton were lined in a sea of pink well-wishers who joined together for a common purpose.

About 200 participants took part in the 18th annual Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club Pink Light Walk and Basket Raffle Tuesday at the Lehighton Boys and Girls Band Hall.

Participants were decked out in pink garb to increase awareness of breast cancer and show their support for all survivors.

Brenda Green, vice president of the Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club, said 24 cancer survivors participated.

After gathering at the band hall, participants took the trek to the Lehighton Amphitheatre

Marsha Estep, member of the Lehighton Area Lioness Lions Club and the emergency department director for St. Luke’s Carbon Campus, welcomed those in attendance.

Estep said that cancer is a word, but not a sentence.

While at the amphitheatre, Dr. Ranju Gupta, Lehigh Valley Health Network Hematologist/Oncologist, said hat breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the country, as there were 300,000 new cases in 2022, and about the same number this year.

Gupta said that about 500,000 lives were saved between 2011-2020.

“We are making progress,” she said. “Early detection can cure breast cancer if it’s detected early.”

Amanda Lindenmoyer, a breast cancer survivor, then spoke.

Lindenmoyer, 45, was diagnosed officially with Stage 1 breast cancer on Dec. 23, 2022.

Married, and a mother of a 15-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son, she works full-time as a Human Resources Professional.

“My cancer was discovered through an annual mammogram that quite honestly if I wasn’t getting my mammogram regularly, may have been marked as a watch spot and not dealt with until my next mammogram the following year,” Lindenmoyer said. “Even after diagnosis and knowing where it was, it was not something that was ever something that was able to be felt; it was solely through the mammogram that it was identified.”

Lindenmoyer said she took “probably a more radical measure than others in my situation than others.”

“Being relatively young to be diagnosed with breast cancer and having children that I want to make sure that I’m around for, I decided with my doctor who was uber-supportive, that I would do a bilateral mastectomy in February of 2023,” she said. “I’m fortunate they were able to remove all of the cancer, and I did not need to seek radiation or chemotherapy.

“Now, I’m in waiting for reconstruction. I’m looking forward to the spring of 2024 when my reconstruction surgery is rescheduled.”

Lindenmoyer said she began getting mammograms as soon as she turned 40, which is the recommendation.

“And I’ve religiously gone ever since.”

There is no history of breast cancer in her family.

“It’s just something I felt I was supposed to do and should do,” she said. “It was 15 minutes of uncomfortable, and it ended up saving my life.”

She feels fortunate she didn’t need chemotherapy or radiation.

“I have not had to endure some of the challenges that some other people have had to endure. I do believe it’s due to the early detection, and my decision to do the mastectomy; not only am I able to get back to some sort of a regular life, regular exercises, day-to-day activity, and work without issue.”

Lindenmoyer noted there are some side effects to some of the medicine, but added, “Six months later, I feel like I’m at a good place. I’m just feeling super fortunate comparative to others.”

Born and raised in Palmerton, Lindenmoyer lives in Slatington with her husband Erik, daughter Melody, a sophomore at Northern Lehigh High School, and a son Chord, a sixth grader at Slatington Elementary School.

“I never thought this would be me; there would be no history to be able to point to this, it’s a little surreal in that regard, and here I am standing in front of people talking about it,” she said. “I’m not somebody who puts my personal life out there or wants any attention in any way.”

Lindenmoyer said she’s had conversations “with a number of people who don’t get mammograms for no rational reason.”

“If I can share my story in some way to help encourage them to get their annual checkup,” she said. “They work, and if you can identify something early, you have a better chance of surviving, beating and overcoming.”

All survivors were acknowledged with a gift and provided with the opportunity to introduce themselves and share their number of years of survivorship.

Each participant received a glow bracelet to show their support.

Palmerton resident Beth Ritter-Guth played bagpipes to escort the crowd down the steps at the amphitheatre.

The Pink Heels Ambulance was in attendance, along with vendors distributing information and selling items.

After returning to the band hall, all supporters who preregistered received a makeup bag with a few goodies.

There were refreshments, including hot dogs, cupcake, apple cider (donated by Seltzer’s Nursery & Farm stand) and bottled water.

A basket raffle benefited the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.