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Midland women walk for breast cancer
An estimated 40,460 women will die of breast cancer this year and another about 450 men will also be taken by the disease.
by Kathleen Thurber
Midland Reporter-Telegram
By Kathleen Thurber
Staff Writer
The six women laughed Thursday as they automatically fell into their walking formation -- the three with quicker strides standing in front and the others following behind just as they've done during each of the 298 miles they've completed so far.
The longtime friends have been walking 3 to 18 miles four times each week since the start of summer to prepare for the three-day, 60-mile breast cancer walk in Washington D.C. they'll be completing in October.
As they met Thursday they joked about their busy days and new haircuts, looking from one to the next and then pointing out that while nearly all of them were wearing a dab of light pink to recognize the Susan G. Komen foundation, matching is not a feat they strive for every day.
Completing each of their routes, which they have documented on crumpled printouts in case they want to repeat a favorite track, certainly has brought the women closer, they admit. But it's also done much more than that, as they prepare to attend the event in honor of teammate and breast cancer survivor Vicki Durham, as well as their friends Terri Patton and Dion Hammond, who's suffering from a brain tumor.
"It touches us all" Durham said, as the women each listed off additional friends and family members who've suffered from the disease.
Nationwide, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and another loses her life to the disease every 13 minutes, according to the data from the national philanthropic project Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
An estimated 40,460 women will die of breast cancer this year and another about 450 men will also be taken by the disease.
When Durham discovered her own cancer it was through a self-exam, she said, looking to teammate Crista Fender to emphasize the importance of practicing that habit regularly, too.
The group of women around Durham Thursday had kept tabs on each other through church groups and school events their children shared during the last 10 years or so, and when they heard of Durham's diagnosis in early 2007, launched prayers of support.
"You feel like you're kind of helpless," said Becca Yocham. "There's not much you can do."
The others nodded in agreement and said though they did what they could, the situation left them feeling helpless, especially since they were in Midland reading e-mailed updates about Durham's condition as she was treated in Houston.
When they started talking later about an action they could take to support Durham and the multitude of others they've known who went through the same situation, they said a three-day Susan G. Komen walk seemed like the perfect fit -- even if it did take a little convincing from Laura Boone, the one they describe as their "athletic friend."
"That was a way we could do something more," Juanda Washburn said.
Originally, they thought of traveling to Dallas, but decided if they were going to use their previously saved frequent flyer miles they might as well take a longer journey.
When they started 12 weeks ago they took short routes, said team member Kim Bates. Now when they only go 5 or 6 miles it flies by in one conversation since they're becoming accustomed to the longer trips where they see all corners of town and make bathroom and snack breaks at any nearby business.
By the time they finish the Washington walk Oct. 5 they'll have reached 490 miles. They've agreed to log an extra 10 sightseeing so they can call it an even 500 miles.
To participate, each woman must raise $2,200 and the team is planning a garage sale and selling T-shirts along with their letters asking for help to meet their team goal of raising $18,000.
The three-day breast cancer walks in 2007 raised $86 million for research and education.
Durham said the outpour of support she received during her treatment was overwhelming and that she looks forward to seeing the thousands of others at the walk who've also survived or are supporting the cause.
Until they get there, they said, be sure and wave at any group of six walking because, even if it's raining, it's probably them.
"We just want it to go away so that our grandchildren won't know what it is," Yocham said of breast cancer.
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.
To donate to the team visit: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Events/General?fr_id=1170&pg=pfind and search for team name Beautiful Soles or for one of the participant's names.
Staff Writer
The six women laughed Thursday as they automatically fell into their walking formation -- the three with quicker strides standing in front and the others following behind just as they've done during each of the 298 miles they've completed so far.
The longtime friends have been walking 3 to 18 miles four times each week since the start of summer to prepare for the three-day, 60-mile breast cancer walk in Washington D.C. they'll be completing in October.
As they met Thursday they joked about their busy days and new haircuts, looking from one to the next and then pointing out that while nearly all of them were wearing a dab of light pink to recognize the Susan G. Komen foundation, matching is not a feat they strive for every day.
Completing each of their routes, which they have documented on crumpled printouts in case they want to repeat a favorite track, certainly has brought the women closer, they admit. But it's also done much more than that, as they prepare to attend the event in honor of teammate and breast cancer survivor Vicki Durham, as well as their friends Terri Patton and Dion Hammond, who's suffering from a brain tumor.
"It touches us all" Durham said, as the women each listed off additional friends and family members who've suffered from the disease.
Nationwide, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and another loses her life to the disease every 13 minutes, according to the data from the national philanthropic project Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
An estimated 40,460 women will die of breast cancer this year and another about 450 men will also be taken by the disease.
When Durham discovered her own cancer it was through a self-exam, she said, looking to teammate Crista Fender to emphasize the importance of practicing that habit regularly, too.
The group of women around Durham Thursday had kept tabs on each other through church groups and school events their children shared during the last 10 years or so, and when they heard of Durham's diagnosis in early 2007, launched prayers of support.
"You feel like you're kind of helpless," said Becca Yocham. "There's not much you can do."
The others nodded in agreement and said though they did what they could, the situation left them feeling helpless, especially since they were in Midland reading e-mailed updates about Durham's condition as she was treated in Houston.
When they started talking later about an action they could take to support Durham and the multitude of others they've known who went through the same situation, they said a three-day Susan G. Komen walk seemed like the perfect fit -- even if it did take a little convincing from Laura Boone, the one they describe as their "athletic friend."
"That was a way we could do something more," Juanda Washburn said.
Originally, they thought of traveling to Dallas, but decided if they were going to use their previously saved frequent flyer miles they might as well take a longer journey.
When they started 12 weeks ago they took short routes, said team member Kim Bates. Now when they only go 5 or 6 miles it flies by in one conversation since they're becoming accustomed to the longer trips where they see all corners of town and make bathroom and snack breaks at any nearby business.
By the time they finish the Washington walk Oct. 5 they'll have reached 490 miles. They've agreed to log an extra 10 sightseeing so they can call it an even 500 miles.
To participate, each woman must raise $2,200 and the team is planning a garage sale and selling T-shirts along with their letters asking for help to meet their team goal of raising $18,000.
The three-day breast cancer walks in 2007 raised $86 million for research and education.
Durham said the outpour of support she received during her treatment was overwhelming and that she looks forward to seeing the thousands of others at the walk who've also survived or are supporting the cause.
Until they get there, they said, be sure and wave at any group of six walking because, even if it's raining, it's probably them.
"We just want it to go away so that our grandchildren won't know what it is," Yocham said of breast cancer.
Kathleen Thurber can be reached at kthurber@mrt.com.
To donate to the team visit: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Events/General?fr_id=1170&pg=pfind and search for team name Beautiful Soles or for one of the participant's names.
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| Bill Engvall wins $44,000 for Midland Children's Rehabilitation Center | No tryouts required ... Community band starting once more |
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