Women from across the Hudson Valley gathered in Yonkers Saturday to share their stories of strength, support and victory in the battle against breast cancer.

The "Beauty Filled Women's Empowerment" gala at the Royal Regency Hotel's ballroom included current breast cancer patients, survivors and their supporters.

"This is my gift. Not only to me but to them. If I can make one woman not feel the way I did when I was diagnosed, this is all worth it," said event organizer Carmen Tirado-Rodriguez, who is a triple negative breast cancer survivor. She is also an advocate for those who may also be facing the medical fight of their lives.

According to statistics from the American Cancer Society, nearly 317, 000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States this year.

Also, this year, an estimated 42,000 women will die from the disease.

"When I was diagnosed with lymphoma, I thought that was the end of the world for me. Thank God for praying, family members and my church people. I'm encouraged when I see there are others fighting along with me and to hear how they've gotten through to the present," said Barbara Tinglin, who was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016.

The event offered access to information and resources, and opportunities to renew friendships and build new ones. Cancer survivor Elaine Morgan shared the key to survival, that she says saved her life.

"The key to my survival was breast self examination, once a month and go for my yearly mammogram," Morgan said.