In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the countdown to Sunday's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event is on.

News 12 has been a proud media sponsor for the American Cancer Society event for more than two decades.

This year, organizers say it will take on a "festive, car parade vibe" from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Sherwood Island.

Among those excited is Ginamarie Caprino. Her team of co-workers and family has shown up to Making Strides for 23 years ever since her mom was diagnosed. This year, the battle got even more personal.

"She said I'm sorry to tell you, it is malignant ... stage 1 breast cancer," says Caprino. "I was about a month late going for my annual checkup because of the pandemic."

"To think how late she could have caught it if she continued to delay getting her annual screening mammogram. It's scary," says Katie DiVenuto, of the American Cancer Society. "I think the take-home message in Ginamarie's story is to not delay screenings."