Kendra Williams, a writing teacher at PS 157 in the Bronx, still remembers small details from the day in 2011 when her doctor told her she had breast cancer. “I had changed my bulletin board that day,” she said. “President Obama was coming into the city so there was a lot of traffic.”

She couldn’t absorb the awful news at first. “It seemed surreal,” she said. “I zoned out, and it took a few days to sink in.” She took a health sabbatical, got help from counselors at the UFT’s Health and Cancer HelpLine and survived the ordeal.

Williams was one of the thousands of UFT members who joined the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks on Sunday, Oct. 16. In a scene taking place in all five boroughs, New Jersey and Long Island, thousands of people wearing pink in every way — shirts, scarves, caps, sneakers, wigs and tutus — walked to honor loved ones battling the disease, support the survivors and raise money for a cure. In addition to funding from walk sponsors, the UFT contingent raised money by selling everything from bookmarks to temporary tattoos and knitted scarves.

The UFT and its state affiliate, NYSUT, each year raise more than $1 million for breast cancer research, making them among the top fundraisers for the Making Strides walks sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

Surrounded by her entire family, UFT Staff Director Ellie Engler, a breast cancer survivor herself, cut the ribbon at the Central Park walk. The Manhattan walk was dedicated to Monica Patino, a UFT administrative assistant who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Daisy Cruz, a speech teacher at PS 157 and one of Williams’ colleagues, said she was walking at Orchard Beach for Williams and others, including a friend from PS 30 in the Bronx who died in 2010.

“It’s your sister, your cousin, your friend,” said Cruz. “I hope we find a cure so my granddaughter won’t have to face it.”

Williams had advice for others facing the disease: “It’s part of your life, but it’s not your whole life,” she said. “Your mindset makes a big difference.”

Freddie Cole, the chapter leader for the J.M. Rapport School for Career Development/P754 in the South Bronx, said the paraprofessionals at his school took the lead in creating a Strides team to honor two paraprofessionals who are battling breast cancer. “They called the team the Step for Wanda and Jones team to honor Wanda Cruz and Emma Jones, whom everyone calls Jones, and their struggle with the disease,” Cole said.

In Queens, IS 93 Chapter Leader Subrina Cek, whose mother passed away from breast cancer last year, was surrounded by more than a dozen teachers, parents and students from her Ridgewood school at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. “It’s great to know my school is behind me,” she said.

Students at IS 93 sold pink lanyards, bows and other items they purchased with their own funds and so far have collected $2,000, Cek said.

It was a bittersweet day for Kendra Williams. She learned in March that her breast cancer had metastasized. “I have bad days and good days,” she said.

Williams mused about how the disease found her, noting that she exercises regularly and doesn’t have a family history of cancer.

“I’m not a typical breast cancer patient,” she said. “The disease can strike anyone. Cancer is a club, and you don’t know who’s in it.”