If you can run or walk and want to help women dealing with breast cancer, your opportunity comes on Sunday, Sept. 28 in the form of the fifth Annual Alki Beach Walk/Run.

All proceeds go to benefit the West Seattle based Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping women battling breast cancer. The 5K route will begin at the Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach Park, and continues along the West Seattle waterfront to Anchor Park.

Each participant is encouraged to gather pledges of $100 or more. Unlike many cancer research organizations all money raised will be used to directly assist breast cancer patients in need of non-medical support services, such as childcare, transportation and other emergency needs. In the last five years, over 900 participants and volunteers have raised over $170,000 at this annual event.

"This organization does amazing work helping breast cancer patients in the Seattle area, and I am privileged to be part of it," says Shari Sewell, the director of Northwest Hope and Healing.

Northwest Hope and Healing Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Christine Smith in 2000. Christine created the Foundation while undergoing breast cancer treatment at the Swedish Medical Center. Her goal was to assist newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Puget Sound area by helping them feel whole again and to give them hope for the future

The West Seattle Herald is proud to be the media sponsor of this event and we invite everyone in the community to join in the festivities. To register on-line, go to www.AlkiBeachRun.com, or in person at Capers, 4521 California Avenue S.W., 932-0371. The Pre-registration fee is $30, and $35 for Day-of registration. Event day check-in time is 8 a.m.; start time is 9 a.m.