Dylan and Laura Stathopoulos-Santiso took part in the 2024 Walk for Women on South Padre Island, joining participants in support of breast cancer awareness. They look forward to participating again this year. )Courtesy photo/Dylan Stathopoulos-Santiso)
By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PARADE
The Walk to Support Breast Cancer Awareness continues on South Padre Island on Sunday, Oct. 4. Walk for Women encourages families and friends to participate in support of women and families needing help with their fight against breast cancer.
Registration runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the South Padre Island Convention Center. The walk starts promptly at 10 a.m. According to Walk for Women’s 2026 event listing, the route will go south on Padre Boulevard to Louie’s Backyard, a distance of approximately three miles.
The walk is free. Walk for Women says the event is a day to support those fighting breast cancer, celebrate survivors and honor those who have died.
For previous participant Laura Stathopoulos-Santiso, the walk carries a personal meaning.
“The walk represents one of courage, strength, and remembrance,” Stathopoulos-Santiso said. “Everyone has their reason for walking whether you are a survivor, or someone near you has made it through this dreadful disease. Unfortunately there are many that are not able to make the walk, as they aren’t with us any longer.”
Walk for Women reports that more than 750 walkers participated in its 2025 fundraising weekend.
According to the organization’s website, Walk for Women is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to benefit women in the lower Rio Grande Valley by providing financial and diagnostic support as they battle breast cancer.
More than $635,000 has been given to Valley women and their families. The organization also lists contributions of $50,000 to the Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation for mammograms and $14,500 to the Carolyn Fund for prostheses.
The organization also lists $10,778 in donations to Baylor Medical Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society. Walk for Women states that, over the years, more than $710,000 has been distributed to help women battling cancer and for cancer research.
According to the organization’s 2026 event listing, bicycles and golf carts are not allowed on the route. Participants are responsible for their own transportation between Louie’s Backyard and the Convention Center.
Participants can preregister through Walk for Women’s Schedule of Events page at spiwalkforwomen.org/schedule. Walk for Women continues to accept donations. Checks may be mailed to Walk for Women, P.O. Box 2698, South Padre Island, TX 78597.