Drumming for “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” Walk
Details
The "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" movement embraces a bittersweet mix of purpose: Celebrating breast cancer survivorship and paying meaningful tributes to loved ones lost, while raising awareness and funds for a world without breast cancer.
This will be WSD’s ninth year playing for the American Cancer Society’s annual Westchester, NY fundraising event. Each year (except during Covid in 2020) we’ve played for tens of thousands of Walkers, including an estimated 22,000+ in 2025 per campus police; many were arrayed in various shades of pink in support of breast cancer survivors and ongoing research.
We play free-form, tribal-style drumming; no full kits, electronic or electrified instruments (except for lightly miked didges, flutes, handpans or singing bowls).
HOW TO FIND US: Our Westchester Spirited Drumming group will be in the same spot as in recent years, behind Brownson Hall and across from the athletic fields.
It's an amazing experience to drum for all those people going past!
The Walkers share a common goal of raising awareness and money for ACS, to aid in its mission of saving lives and helping to eliminate the devastating effects of breast cancer.
Please join us in drumming for this fantastic and very worthwhile event. The Walkers really enjoy having us play for them; many seem to get an energy boost from our drumming.
Some Walkers stop by for a bit to actually play with us, or dance to our grooves. The atmosphere is one of a fun, participatory party and celebration of Life.
THE WALK WILL BE HELD RAIN OR SHINE, BARRING SEVERE WEATHER.
It will be up to each WSD player whether or not to go if it is actively raining. Synthetic-head drums and some percussion instruments can be played in the rain, though obviously natural-skin drums cannot.
WSD organizer Jeff Poritzky will be there even in the event of rain or funky weather, unless conditions are too dangerous. (In the unlikely event of severe weather, cancellation notices will be sent out ASAP on Meetup.)
Feel free to bring extra drums or percussion items if you’re willing to share them.
Don’t forget a chair or drum stand for yourself, plus water, a jacket or layers of clothing, and snacks.
**IMPORTANT INFORMATION**
EVENT TIMING: You may arrive as early as 6:30 a.m. and vehicles can be driven to our drumming area to unload (behind Brownson Hall and across from the athletic fields).
IMPORTANT! ALL CARS MUST BE MOVED OFF CAMPUS STREETS TO THE PARKING LOTS BEFORE 7:30 A.M. AFTER THAT TIME, CARS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE UP TO THE UNLOAD DRUMS WHERE WE PLAY.
If you don’t need drive-up access, we recommend you arrive by 8:30 a.m. at the latest. The walk starts at 9:00 a.m. and runs through noon. There will be golf carts on-site if you need assistance transporting equipment after 7:30 a.m.
VIP PARKING: WSD members are invited to park on campus in the VIP lot, provided you have a VIP parking pass.
The address is Manhattanville University, 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577. The VIP lot is directly off the main campus gate.
A printable VIP parking pass will be sent out to everyone who registers for this WSD event on Meetup.
Please do not exceed 2 vehicles in the VIP lot. Security at the main gate will be checking for passes, so please print it and have it ready when you pull in.
GENERAL EVENT PARKING (NON-VIP LOT): Overflow parking is available at The Centre at Purchase, 2 Manhattanville Road, Purchase, NY 10577 if you have family or friends that aren’t parking in the VIP lot.
RESTROOMS: Portable toilets and a handwashing station will be available.
WALK WEBSITE & PARTICIPANT GUIDE: Everything you need to know before attending this event:
WEATHER: This event is outdoors and will be held rain or shine unless there is severe weather, in which case we will communicate with you about any changes.
It’s suggested that you dress in layers — October mornings can be very chilly, only to give way to short-sleeve warmth and sunshine! Check the hourly weather forecast for Purchase, NY at weather.com.
HELP: You can reach drumming organizer Jeff Poritzky if you need help for *anything that is truly urgent*; his number is (914) 772-3165.
*** IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE ATTENDING TO DRUM AND HAVE SIGNED UP ON MEETUP ***
PLEASE NOTE: MEETUP DOES NOT ALLOW PDFs TO BE POSTED.
SO TO RECEIVE PDFs OF INFO DETAILS, A ROUTE MAP, AND A PRINTABLE VIP PARKING PASS BY EMAIL, PLEASE EMAIL RICK TAYLOR AT BARRACUDA4567@GMAIL.COM.
STATE “MAKING STRIDES 2026” IN THE SUBJECT LINE, SO I’LL KNOW YOU AREN’T A SCAMMER, AND LEAVE YOUR NAME.
I WILL THEN EMAIL YOU THESE ITEMS. THANKS.