Mother-daughter pair didn’t lose a step in coming up with an alternative to the annual 3-Day Susan Komen event.
In 2009, I joined a group of friends to participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, the annual event where hundreds of men and women walk 60 miles in three days to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. Since, I’ve been a part of Team Treasure Chest, and we have collectively logged more than 4,000 official 3-Day miles and raised more than $165,000 in the fight against this dreaded disease. Raising money and awareness are the most crucial elements of being involved with the 3-Day events, and that is why we do it. As a member of the special community dedicated to this cause, I know that the money we’ve raised has helped save lives. And being together as a team, along with hundreds of other Pink Warriors, for the actual 60-mile weekend event is always just icing on the cake.
Each year as the weather starts to warm up, I begin my walk training. Starting slowly and building up the mileage, I hit the streets of my neighborhood to prepare my body and mind for the 60-mile challenge. And this year was no different. Happy to have my daughter, Maddie, join me, we decided to expand the training area and explore the many beautiful walking trails and paths throughout Cherokee County. It was on one of these walks that we realized that we could actually create our own 60-mile route right here in our backyard.
Well, in mid-May we received the inevitable email letting us know that, understandably, this year’s Susan G. Komen 3-Day events had been canceled. We would not be spreading the pink love in Chicago later this year. Without missing a step (pun intended), Maddie and I knew what we had to do: bring the Pink Bubble to Cherokee for Team Treasure Chest’s own 60-mile/3-Day adventure.
Just like a true 3-Day event, our route will take us through amazing parks, trails and neighborhoods. There will be quiet streets and busy roads, and plenty of opportunities to buy food and fill water bottles. We know it won’t have all the bells, whistles and amenities of an official event (like sweep vans and port-a-potties), but it will give us the opportunity to celebrate the fact that Team Treasure Chest raised more than $20,000 this year.
We would be happy to share our route and welcome those of you interested in making a statement to take the challenge and give it a try. Walk for one day or all three, it’s up to you. This is a walk with friends – a walk with a purpose. And if seeing a group decked out in pink, walking down the street, gets one woman to make that mammogram appointment or do a self-exam, it will be worth it.
So, on Friday, Oct. 2, we will begin the journey with pride, knowing that we will continue this battle: Because We Can and Because We Must!
By Gloria Avillar
For more details, or to reach Gloria, email footstepsforthecure@gmail.com, or visit https://foot-steps.wixsite.com/footstepsforthecure.
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