Volunteer Samantha Schellhorn, 12, of Howland, paints the face of Lily Kay, 8, of Girard, during the third annual Cupcake Walk to benefit Pink Lights the Way, a nonprofit that supports people after a breast cancer diagnosis. The event took place Sunday at Eastwood Field in Niles.

NILES — No one should fight alone after a breast cancer diagnosis.

That was the central message Sunday as Eastwood Field was swarmed in pink during the third annual Cupcake Walk to support “survivors, thrivers and fighters.”

The event was sponsored by Pink Lights the Way, a local nonprofit that’s raised more than $100,000 to support people during their breast cancer journeys. Participants in the mile-long walk shared stories and along the way enjoyed treats from local bakers and businesses.

The organization was founded in 2022 by Megan Schellhorn, 43, of Warren, and Shannon Styer, 38, of North Ridgeville, who grew up in Cortland.

Styer has three children and was diagnosed in 2021 with stage 2, triple-negative breast cancer, though she had no family history of it. She underwent chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, radiation and oral chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free.

Styer gave birth to “miracle baby” Jacob eight weeks ago and said, “After chemo, we didn’t know if we could get pregnant again.”

The idea behind the nonprofit is to offer emotional and financial support to families affected by breast cancer, and meal delivery gift cards and crafts to keep their children occupied during times of treatment and sickness.

“Mentorship is the biggest thing we offer,” she said. “We also pair people so they don’t feel alone in their journey.”

The first year of the walk, a few hundred people attended. Styer said about 700 people turned out last year, and they planned for about 1,000 participants this year.

The event included food trucks, vendors, raffles, games, music and fellowship.

Styer’s cousin, Jenn Ostapiak, 53, of North Jackson, was diagnosed eight years ago with triple-positive breast cancer. She said they were both tested for genetic links, but none were found.

She is cancer-free now, but Ostapiak said the fear of recurrence is always there. What helps, she said, is that technology and medicine evolve every year.

“The type of cancer I had was almost a death sentence 20 years ago,” she added.

Tedi Rogers, of Newton Falls, soon will have 19 years as a survivor under her belt and attended the walk with coworkers from Walmart in Austintown. She praised Pink Lights the Way, saying it keeps people from feeling alone during a scary time in their lives.

Rogers said she was blindsided by her diagnosis, but added, “I didn’t have time to be scared” because the diagnosis came at the same time her former workplace filed for bankruptcy.

She immediately began applying for jobs and said she was hired by Parker Hannifin in Ravenna and that her first day on the job was also her first day of chemotherapy.

“I had perfect attendance during chemo and radiation,” she said. “You do what you have to do to survive.”

Schellhorn, a mom of three and Hubbard High School teacher, said she was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer just after she turned 39.

She went through chemotherapy, immunotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy and 25 rounds of radiation before being declared cancer-free.

Students from her school, both current and former, turn up every year to volunteer at the walk.

“They really embrace the event,” she said, explaining it means a lot to her. “I am just in awe of the amazing support of the community for this event. What a special day it was.”