National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Walk For A Cause

As you all (hopefully) know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (link to www.nbcam.org). For nearly 25 years, this month has been recognized to raise awareness of the disease and raise funds for research. With a 12% chance of developing the disease, it is one of the most important health issues women face. In 1993, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded by beauty corporation Estee Lauder, and has since raised more than $250 million—including $32 million this year alone—for the cause. Since then, many other companies have developed products or donated proceeds to breast cancer research. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we encourage you to put together a team of your dorm, sorority, sports team, student organization, family members or friends to think pink and take a walk for a good cause—there are many to choose from! If you missed out on one of these walks this year, you can start planning ahead for next October!

American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Event History: Nearly five million walkers have raised more than $340 million since 1993.

Length: 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) or 5 miles, depending on location

Locations: 41 states sponsor walks, visit http://makingstrides.acsevents.org for a complete list

Registration: bring donations to the walk; no pre-registration or fee required

Date: Varies by location

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Event History: 2008 marked the 25th anniversary of the walk, but over one million people have walked since 2005. It is the largest series of 5K run/walks in the world.

Length: 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)

Locations: visit http://ww5.komen.org/findarace.aspx for a complete list

Registration: register online or in person; bring donations to the walk

Date: Varies by location

Breast Cancer 3-Day (Benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure)

Event History: Has raised over $400 million since its 2003 beginning

Length: 60 miles over three days (!)

Locations: 15 cities each year, visit www.the3day.org for a complete list

Registration: $90, plus at least $2,300 in raised donations

Remaining 2009 Dates: Philadelphia- October 16-18, Atlanta- October 23-25, Tampa Bay- October 30-November 1, Dallas/Fort Worth- November 6-8, Arizona- November 13-15, San Diego- November 20-22

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Event History: $56 million was raised in 2008 alone, making it the most successful year since the walk began in 2003

Length: 39 miles over two days

Locations: New York, Charlotte, Houston, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Rocky Mountains, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, visit www.avonwalk.org for more information

Registration: $65, plus at least $1,800 in raised donations

Last 2009 Walk: Charlotte- October 24-25

2010 walks start in April

HC Spotlight:

Grace Melson, from Syracuse University, planned on walking in the Philadelphia 3-Day on October 16-18 in honor of her 39-year-old cousin, who died earlier this year after a long battle with breast cancer. She and her three cousins raised a total of $9,801 through donations, a bowling alley fundraiser, and “Beers for Boobies” party at her apartment. Grace started training over the summer by taking increasingly longer walks around the neighborhood and on the treadmill.

Unfortunately, for Grace, the weekend took an unexpected turn. The first two days of the walk were cancelled due to a Nor’easter that flooded the overnight camp. Rather than calling the whole weekend off, hundreds of walkers rallied together at the King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia to have an impromptu walk. Connecting through online message boards, they set up a makeshift headquarters outside JC Penney where 700 walkers met at 9:30 am to walk 12 miles indoors.

The weather behaved itself on Sunday, so Grace and her cousins were able to walk the day’s 14.7 miles as planned. “I really pushed myself to keep going when I got tired because I only had that one true day of the 3-day experience so I wanted to get every minute out of it. We got so attached to the crazy crew members and cheering squads who wore tutus, face paint, and pink wigs,” Grace said. “When they would ask how we were doing while helping us cross an intersection or riding past us on bikes or in sweep vans, I didn't want to let them down. I also wanted to be able to tell my donors that even though the weather was a problem, I still got in miles at the mall, and finished the third day.”

Talk about empowering!