AUGUSTA — The weather hasn’t been great.So Keleine Laflin has had to take her training indoors to prepare for the 3-Day Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston.
She averages three to four miles a day on the treadmill.
The 60-mile walk, which benefits the Susan G. Komen For the Cure, a national philanthropic trust project, will be held August 15-17.
The Breast Cancer 3-Day walk series will visit 14 cities throughout the countr y starting in Chicago on Aug. 8 and ending in San Diego on Nov. 23. The 2008 Breast Cancer 3-Day Series will generate millions of dollars to fund critical breast cancer research and community-outreach programs.
The 35-year-old mother of three from Readfield will walk with a 10-woman team from Maine.
She said her mom has had 13 lumps removed from both breasts. The lumps were benign. Her husband’s aunt is a breast cancer survivor.
But it’s the women she works with at the Senator Inn & Spa who have left an impression. As an esthetician, Laflin treats a number of breast cancer survivors.
“They are so incredibly strong,” Laflin said Friday. “They’ve had mastectomies and double mastectomies or are going through chemo and radiation. I just feel it affects so many people in so many ways … children, husbands and friends. It’s affected me very strongly and this is something I need to do.”
Laflin will be walking with a team called the Pink Panters. The name of the team represents the color of the breast cancer ribbon, and their panting dogs that trail along when the women train outdoors on good-weather days.
Her three-year-old beagle, Dori, just wants to go, go, go.
“I’m not going to take her on the walk, because it’s a 60-mile walk,” she said.
The three-day route covers from 15 miles to 22 miles each day for three days in a row, totaling about 60 miles.
After a long day’s journey, teams will spend the evening at the 3-Day camp with fellow walkers and crew members.
Camp will consist of many different areas, including dining tents, where they will eat dinner and breakfast; and shower and sink trucks, for washing up.
There will be a 3-Day Café for relaxation and socialization, a stage for nightly announcements and entertainment, and a sea of two-person tents that will be their home away from home.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I think it’s going to be a new adventure, and definitely going to be a personal achievement for me as well. It will be fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
But first Laflin must raise $2,200 to participate in the walk. People can donate at www.the3day.org.
Sarah Richardson, spokeswoman for Breast Cancer 3-Day event, said contributions can be made to the general breast cancer treatment fund or a specific walker at the 3-Day web page.
Jen Thibert, 37, a fellow walker from Oakland, has already raised half the funds she needed.
The stay-at-home mom has never participated in a fundraiser walk before so it’s all new to her.
But she wanted to do it on behalf of her mom, Diane Foley of Bucksport, who is celebrating her 10th year as a breast cancer survivor.
“It’s important to raise awareness,” Thibert said. “Every time we get out there and do a fundraiser we’re raising awareness of cancer and how people can help to prevent breast cancer by taking care of themselves and doing the exams, those types of things.”
Four women who are bound by a common goal spent Saturday at Timmins Square, raising funds for Ottawa’s Weekend to End Breast Cancer.By about 3 p.m. they had raised around $400 and called the day a success.
Approached by mostly older women, many of whom are breast cancer survivors, the four women are gearing up for the June 6 weekend by raising at least $2,000 each and preparing for the 60-kilometre walk.
In Ottawa “we’re going to host bake sales and parties, as well as a kickboxing class,” said Tracy Mannila, who is a Timmins native currently residing in Ottawa.
Penny Joseph and Connie Bartolomucci-Holm are also from Timmins and live in Ottawa.
Tracy Simpson is the fourth in the five-person group. Unlike some of her teammates, the Timmins resident has never done the walk. She’s excited about supporting the cause.
“My parents have helped out quite a bit with fundraising,” she said. “Through word of mouth they’ve collected a lot.”
“We’ve all been affected by cancer in one way or another,” added Bartolomucci-Holm, “and we wanted to do something that would make a difference. When you tell people you’re walking 60 kilometres for a cause they really listen.”
There are women who finish chemotherapy on Wednesday and begin the walk that weekend.
“Last year was the first time we did it and raised about $2,400 each,” said Joseph.
“It’s an incredible experience.
On the Saturday, participants walk 35 kilometres, then many spend the night in tents before walking the remaining 25 the next day.
There are doctors, nurses and massage therapists on site to make sure everyone makes it through the event.
“When you’re finishing you walk through a huge group of people who are all celebrating your arrival and your huge accomplishment,” Mannila said.
“You’re in pain but it’s an incredible feeling and something to be proud of. Moments after we finished we signed up for this year,” she said.
“We’re doing it for the past, the people we’ve lost; the present, for us; and the future, for our daughters. I always tear up when I say that.”
To support the group, known as the Northern High Beams, go to www.endcancer.ca, click on “Ottawa,” then click “Sponsor a participant,” click on “Search for a team” then type “Northern High Beams.”
The 3rd Annual Birdies for Breast Cancer Golf Tournament will be Monday, May 12, 2008 at Rocky River Golf Club at Concord. The Captain’s Choice tournament will start at noon with a shotgun start.There are two hole in one prizes: Mens’ Stainless Steel ROLEX Submariner Watch courtesy of Village Jewelry and a 2008 Pontiac G6 4-Door Sedan courtesy of Ben Mynatt Pontiac Buick GMC. There will also be awards for top 3 teams, longest drive, longest putt, and closet to the pin.Registration fee is $80 per golfer and includes range balls, brunch, round of golf, dinner, awards and prizes. There will also be a silent auction and raffle.Net proceeds of the event will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Charlotte Affiliate. For more info, visit queencitywalkers.org.
WHEN:
Monday, May 12, 2008 12 p.m.
WHERE:
Rocky River Golf Club at Concord
3900 Speedway Blvd.
Concord,NC 28027
Desperate Housewives star Nicolette Sheridan has stripped naked – for charity.
The stunning actress strips down for a new charity ad which also features real life fiance and singer Michael Bolton.
Bolton is seen wearing a huge London Fog trench coat which he has wrapped around Sheridan – although you can still see a glimpse of her naked backside.
The ad was shot for UK company London Fog to raise awareness and any proceeds from the charity campaign will be donated to The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp in Ashford, Connecticut.
The camp was founded in 1988 by Hollywood legend Paul Newman and provides children with cancer and other serious illnesses a camping experience and extends year-round support to their families and health care providers.
The campaign was shot by Davis Factor and appears in April issues of US fashion magazines.
SHERIDAN — The town of Sheridan was draped in pink this week as residents decorated Main Street with ribbons and carnations in support of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.In January, Noblesville resident Susan Gillim started an effort asking Sheridan residents to join a team for the race and raise money and awareness to fight breast cancer. Her husband owns MAIN Architects on Main Street in Sheridan, and the couple are building a home there.
Her goal is to motivate Sheridan residents and businesses to raise $5,000 for Race for the Cure. The 5K run/walk is April 19 in Indianapolis.
According to the Indianapolis affiliate of Race for the Cure, the town’s team has raised $1,715, or 34 percent of its goal.
Here are two upcoming events in Sheridan to raise more money, plus an important deadline to sign up for the race:
The Sheridan team will host a Rummage for the Cure sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Community Center, 300 E. Sixth St. All proceeds will go toward the team’s $5,000 goal. Donations are collected at Town Hall. For more information about donation times, call (317) 758-5293.
Team members and volunteers, dressed in pink, will be posted at the intersection of Ind. 38 and Ind. 47 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 collecting drive-by donations for Race for the Cure.
Donations of cash or checks, made out to Komen Race for the Cure, also can be dropped off at Sheridan Town Hall or MAIN Architects on Main Street.
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the 5K run/walk, is April 19 in Indianapolis. Individuals can register by mail until March 31 and online at www.komenindy.org until April 14. Entries are $25. Teams need to register online or by mail by Friday.
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