Thousands of people gathered at Manhattanville College to join the 29th annual Making Strides Against Cancer fundraising walk.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is estimated that in just this year alone, 43,550 American women will die from the disease.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime.

Survivors, family members, community supporters, sponsors and vendors united at the event. Organizers say is the sixth largest cancer walk in the entire county.

Many attendees say their lives have been impacted by the illness.

“While I was in college, a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, I've had other friends and even family members who have been affected by it,” said Nicole Ndzibah.

"My grandmother had a double mastectomy when she was in her 70s, and she survived for a very long time. She just recently passed away in January at the age of 106, so this research and fundraising is important. It works. It helps,” said Awilda Alvarado.

Sheila Bogan of the American Cancer Society says they hope to raise a total of $800,000 to fund research, education, advocacy and patient services.