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To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a local group is doing its part to raise awareness.

The Suffolk Chapter of Las Amigas Inc. will host a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at 11 a.m. Oct. 23 at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 125 County St. This walk is for survivors, supporters and community members to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer screenings.

“This is our first year,” said Bridgett Rider, Las Amigas Inc. member and breast cancer survivor. “Hopefully, this will go well and we can do a walk every year.”

Walkers will meet in the Metropolitan Baptist Church parking lot and walk the block of Tynes Street before returning to the church. There will be a couple of speakers in the parking lot to talk about their experiences with breast cancer and the importance of early screening. The group hopes to have onsite screenings as well during this time.

Las Amigas Inc. is a group of professional businesswomen who come together to help the community. The organization annually makes donations to local groups, including Suffolk Sickle Cell Association, The Genieve Shelter, Suffolk Public Schools and wherever a need comes up.

“Whatever the community needs, we give back all the money we raise to help,” said Rider.

This walk is in conjunction with a year-long project of the chapter to educate citizens of the danger of not getting checked for breast cancer. As Rider has first-hand experience with breast cancer, spreading awareness is something close to her heart.

“As a survivor, this means a lot to me,” said Rider. “It’s important to get women and men aware of how important it is to get exams, even if it’s just a self-exam.”

For folks who want to be a part of this first walk, call Sylvia J. Turner at 757-539-3795 or Bridgett Rider at 757-752-1234 for more information and to sign up.