Thousands of NYSUT members were "Making Strides against Breast Cancer" this weekend from Albany to the Hudson Valley to Westchester to numerous sites in New York City. Walkers of NYSUT teams from Jamestown to Jones Beach on Long Island also participated in the American Cancer Society's biggest annual fundraiser.

Union members are striving to raise more than $1 million for the third year in a row to raise awareness and fund treatment and research programs to fight cancer.

The campaign kicked off Oct. 4 in New York with walks in Binghamton, Buffalo (pictured above), Rochester, Syracuse, Washington County and Waterloo.

More walks are scheduled Oct. 24-25 in Watertown and in Queensbury, Warren County.

About Making Strides

2009 marks NYSUT's eighth year as a flagship sponsor of the non-competitive 5K Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks, which will take place at numerous sites across the state. Last year, about 13,000 NYSUT members walked across the state. For the second year in a row, together, they raised more than $1 million to fight cancer. NYSUT, a flagship sponsor, was the first organization to raise $1 million in a single year and is still the only team to top that milestone mark according to the American Cancer Society.

"The generosity of our members is the strength of our effort," said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira. "Our volunteers are leaders in their schools and their communities. Our work has set a new standard for our corporate partners to match."