More than 150 Plainedge walkers brought together by the Plainedge Federation of Teachers (PFT) took to the boardwalk of Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh Oct. 20 to participate in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

The Plainedge contingent, organized by Lucia Magnoli, Packard Middle School math teacher, was again one of the largest union groups to participate and included both active and retired Plainedge teachers as well as administrators, school support staff, parents and students.

"We united as a school district family, and as a result, we collected more than $9,000 for the American Cancer Society," said Lynne Jurist, Schwarting Elementary School fifth grade teacher and 2nd Vice President of PFT.

"We can learn something from this unity," said Laura Pokorny, Packard Middle School sixth grade science teacher and president of PFT. "When the Plainedge school community works together we can reach remarkable heights."

The annual fundraiser featured thousands of participants who came together to raise consciousness and dollars for breast cancer research. This year, about 2,000 women on Long Island will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Of those, 600 women will die from the disease, according the American Cancer Society.