Three days, 60 miles and thousands of women walk to cure cancer
Three days, 60 miles, and thousands of women proudly wearing pink crossed the finish line on Sunday- cheered on by family, friends and supporters. More than 3,000 women and men participated in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk this past weekend, traveling from Bellevue to the Seattle Center over the course of three days.
The event raised some $8.6 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and for the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.
When Carpet To Go Manager Sandra Loa peaked out her showroom window in Bellevue on Friday, she was pleasantly surprised to see hundreds of shoes hitting the pavement.
“I hadn’t heard about the walk, but when I saw all the walkers in pink I decided to run out, buy a ton of water, and set up a rest area for them,” she said. The business had pink balloons on hand and strung them up on the sidewalk in front of the store, opening the doors for water and bathroom breaks.
Walkers brought endless bounds of energy, stories, humor and spunky fashion. Bright pink feather boas, Mardi Gras-style beads, team shirts, and even a tutu were among a few of the creative and crazy accessories the walkers wore.
A team of eight members proudly wore light pink shirts that read, “Save the Racks,” in honor of friends and loved ones affected by cancer. A long list of names adorned the back.
Participants walked in teams, with friends and as individuals for a variety of reasons. A little over 300 walkers were survivors themselves while others walked in memory of loved ones touched by cancer. Every year, roughly 200,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer.
The 3-day walk takes place in 14 cities across the country, rallying support, education and funding for the cause.
Friends, Jacki Lewis and Terie Lesner traveled from Los Angeles to participate in the Seattle 3-day Walk. For Lesner, this marked her ninth walk for cancer.
“I decided to start walking back in June of 2003 for exercise then was diagnosed with cancer shortly after,” she said. “I haven’t stopped walking since.”
Leading up to the event, each participant was required to raise a minimum of $2,200 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds of this event go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the additional 15 percent goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.
The 2008 Seattle 3-day Walk attracted 1,000 more participants than the previous year and included nearly 400 volunteers and crew members lending a helping hand.
The sun was shining all weekend long, as walkers followed a scenic route of the Northwest guiding them past glistening lakes, forests, and tall skyscrapers. Walkers rested their tired feet each night at a designated 3-Day camp with fellow walkers and crew members.
Camp consisted of dining tents, a “3-Day Café” for relaxation and socialization, a stage for nightly announcements and entertainment, and a sea of two-person tents for recharging for another day of walking.
For some, the walk was a family affair. Jude and Doreen Thomas said “I Do” at last year’s 3-day Walk and celebrated their one year anniversary as they crossed the finish line on Sunday.
“I can’t tell you how good this feels to accomplish something like this together,” Doreen said with a bright smile on her face.
For many, preparation for next year’s walk will begin soon.
All 2009 walkers must agree to raise a minimum of $2,300 for the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk, an event that continues to grow in momentum each year.
For more information on the 3-day Walk visit www.the3day.org/.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@bellevuereporter.com or at 425-453-4602.
