HOULTON, Maine — When the first Bridge to Hope cancer walk was held in 2005, it drew about 50 people and raised about $800.
On Saturday, nearly 250 walkers helped raise a whopping $10,442 to help local families in their fight against cancer. Throughout its nine-year history, the walk has collected more than $70,000, with the majority of those funds going to people in southern Aroostook County.
The first Bridge to Hope walk was organized by Cathy Kennedy in October 2005 to commemorate October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The walk has since evolved to help individuals with all types of cancer.
Bridge to Hope helps families by providing monetary gifts, gas cards or hotel stays to families who have a loved one receiving cancer treatments. The group also donates a portion of its funds to the Maine Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society and provides a scholarship for a local high school student.
“In the past nine years, we have helped over 200 local families,” explained Dee Butler Henderson. “We are local people helping local people. That is our motto.”
Others helping to organize the event include Marie Carmichael, Pam Hocking, Amy Hocking and Kim Folsom. All five women involved in organizing the event have a direct connection to cancer, either through a direct diagnosis or the affliction of a loved one.
“We all know what we have to do and we just do it,” Henderson said. “It is near and dear to all of our hearts and as difficult as it is sometimes, this is something we have to do.”
