7-15-08

Walpole Women Walking for Cancer Cure

60 Miles Over Three Days in August!

By Chuck Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Six intrepid Walpole area women—calling themselves The Pink Sox—will attack a three-day, 20-miles-per-day, trek through suburban Boston in August to raise cancer research funds as part of the Breast Cancer 3-Day® to Benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

            Walpoleans (and sisters-in-law) Chris and Patti Neal, Chris’s daughters Melissa Neal and Tiffany Guiterrez, Diane Myers-Miller, along with Angela Warren of Hanover, have been training since spring for their marathon days next month.

    Breast cancer research walkers at their Old Home Days Bake Sale were, left to right, Patti Neal, Diane Myers-Miller, Christine Neal, Melissa Neal, and Tiffany Guiterrez.

       And, they’ve been recruiting individual and business sponsors of their walks with an equally bold goal of raising at least $2,200 apiece and a total of $14,000 for breast cancer research.  So far Chris, Diane and Patti have exceeded their individual sponsorship goals, and Melissa, Tiffany and Angela are still working on theirs.

Seeking a Cure

            “It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time,” said Patti Neal at the group’s Old Home Days bake sale on the town Common last week.  “I went to the web site at www.the3day.org and found that my sister–in-law Chris had already signed up.  I called my friend Diane [Myers-Miller] and convinced her to join us.  So that was great!”  Patti is an administrative secretary at Fall Mountain Regional High School.

            “I had a friend in San Diego who is a breast cancer survivor,” added Chris. “She did the walk a few years ago which is how I learned about it.  Unfortunately, we all know many others who have been touched by it.  This is our opportunity to do something bold to fight back.”  Chris is a nurse with Fresenius Medical Care of Lebanon (NH), a dialysis center.  Chris also recruited a Fresenius colleague, Angela Warren of Hanover, to participate along with Chris’s two daughters, Tiffany and Melissa.

            “Originally, just my mom wanted to do it,” recalled Tiffany, 25, a stay-at-home mother.  “But the more I looked into it the more important I realized it was. We’re doing it for the future.  As the slogan on the web site, says it, ‘everyone deserves a life’.”

Funds Raised to Date

            The Pink Sox have made substantial progress in raising pledges for their goal of $14,000.  But they still need help.  Readers can get an up-to-the-minute tally of their pledge progress at http://08.the3day.org/.  Pledges can be made on the site. Alternatively, readers can download a form for making a pledge by mail.

            The next fundraiser is a concert at Hastings House behind the Unitarian church from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. on July 26 featuring the Highball Heroes.  Admission is $10 if one wears pink and $15 otherwise.

Komen for the Cure

Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds from the Breast Cancer
3-Day benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network fighting to end breast cancer.  

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement to fund research for a cure.

Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure® and the Breast Cancer 3-Days, the organization has invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill its promise. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org/ or call 1 877 GO KOMEN.

National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund

        Fifteen percent of the net proceeds from the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund that will provide support for breast cancer initiatives including research, treatment, prevention and education. The NPT Breast Cancer Fund is an endowment that will ensure that the cause receives long-term, continuing support irrespective of gifting activities in years to come.

        National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) is an independent public charity dedicated to promoting and facilitating charitable giving by individuals, families and organizations while expanding their knowledge in the field of philanthropy. Founded in 1996, NPT is one of the 100 largest charities in the United States with more than $640 million in assets under management. For more information, visit http://www.nptrust.org/ and http://www.nptrust.org/donors/field_interest_funds.asp.

Serious, Concrete Action

            Asked why she is training for 60 miles of August walking over three days, Angela Warren laughed, “One of my closest friends had to have a double mastectomy in her thirties.  And we just know so many friends who are sick or even dying of breast cancer. So we’re looking for something concrete we can do to help them and other women in the future.  This is a great program, and I’m glad to help!”

            Diane Myers-Miller said the day she decided to participate was her daughter Eliza’s 21st birthday.  “I am mindful of doing this for my daughters and others as well.  And not just for treatment but for a cure!”

            Melissa Neal said, “I’m walking for my mom, my sister, my niece, and my future children.”

            For more about the project or the Pink Sox, call Patti Neal at 313-7476 or 756-4286.

                                                            --30--