Livonia ? Dorothy Moon did her first Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walk five years after she was diagnosed with cancer. Early Saturday morning, she and her group, the BC Babes, began the second day of their 60-mile journey.
"I keep doing it because it's inspiring," said the fifth-time walker from Rochester Hills. "I want people to see cancer's not a death sentence."
Hundreds of participants geared up for the 18 miles ahead of them, stretching and cheering in the crisp morning air after breaking camp at Livonia's Greenmead Historic Park.
They're walking for mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, friends and themselves.
For Beth Northman of Mount Clemens, her reason is her daughter, Kim. Diagnosed at 48 with breast cancer, she is now two years out of chemotherapy.
"She's my inspiration right now," said Northman, as she and other BC Babes teammates congregated before starting the race.
The team of 29 women and 1 man, ranging in age from 19 to 73 and with members from as far away as North Carolina and Maryland, is the third largest fundraising group in the state. It took time to get where they are, though. They've been training for the past 24 weeks and by the time they started their walk Friday, they'd already put in 500 miles to get here.
The walk is not without its difficulties. Registered nurse Karen Genter, co-captain of the medical team, said after the first leg of 22 miles, her volunteers have been treating blisters and cases of dehydration requiring IVs. Yesterday, they sent one to the hospital and two people for x-rays.
Still, said the six-year volunteer, it's fewer injuries compared with past years.
"This weather is great for walking, but bad for hydration because they don't think they need to drink as much," said the Commerce Township resident. "It's the hardest three days, but the most rewarding thing you can do."
For those hoping to support the walkers, a cheering station will be set up today from 9 a.m. - noon at Sheldon Road, just past 5 Mile Road in Northville. On Sunday, the walkers will finish their trek at the Ford World Headquarters, 1 American Road, in Dearborn starting at around 11:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the day.
For Sterling Heights resident Denise Penna, her reason for walking started out as wanting to honor two aunts that died of cancer at ages 39 and 54. Over the seven years she's participated, she's lost more loved ones to cancer, but also gained a large group of friends with a common goal: finding a cure for the disease.
"It's amazing. It keeps me going. It starts out being a small reason and turns into a really big one," said Penna. "When you see people walking who are going through chemo and have no hair and are in wheelchairs, it's the least you can do."
Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120818/METRO/208180357/1361/rss41
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