Hundreds of people participated in a walkathon organized here on Sunday to spread public awareness on breast cancer.

Organised by Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (UBF) in association with the U.S. Consulate General, the 'Pink Ribbon Walk 2010' was flagged off by Andhra Pradesh Police Commissioner and renowned actor A K Khan and Dada Saheb Phalke award winner Akkineni Nageshwar Rao.

Chief Executive Officer of the UBF P.R Raghu Ram said the walk would also help in creating awareness about reducing the risk of breast cancer.

"October is worldwide recognized as International Breast Cancer Awareness month and the message is three-fold for this Pink Ribbon Walk 2010. One is the aim of the walk. First aim, is to educate and empower people about the importance of early detection of breast cancer because we can't prevent breast cancer. The only way to fight breast cancer is to detect early," said Raghu Ram.

"The second reason, for doing this walk is to recognize and applaud survivors in their families in their fight against breast cancer and thirdly, to emphasize the exercise in a very important way to keep away life style diseases and cancer is no exception," he added.

Raghu Ram also advised that it was not just women even men needed to have awareness of breast cancer.

Consul General Katheine Dhanani said people should work on creating awareness on breast cancer and early detention. She further added that their participation salutes and encourages those fighting the disease.

"I was specially happy to see the young women because if they get into the right habits early in their lives, they will be successful in fighting breast cancer. This is a great partnership and we are honoured and pleased to be a part of it and looking forward to walk in and meeting some more people who are here today," said Katherine Dhanani, U.S Consulate General.

She also suggested that detection of breast cancer at an early stage would ensure long-term survival.

Atleast 1,000 women participated in the walk to make it successful.