Sisters destined for Boston
to fight breast cancer
By Kathy McCarty
Thousands will take to the streets of Boston, including two local sisters, for a three-day event to raise awareness and funds to prevent one of the leading causes of death among women – breast cancer – as part of the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Days for the Cure July 23-25.
“Thousands of supporters will cover 60 miles in three days to help raise awareness of one of the leading causes of death among women — breast cancer,” said Peggy Boucher, who will join her sister, Theresa Spooner, for the fund-raiser later this month in Massachusetts.
“After months of training and fund-raising, participants walk 60 miles during the three days to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research,” said Boucher.
“This is my fourth year participating in the Susan G. Koman 3-Day for the Cure and will be my sister’s first year walking, though she volunteered as a crew member last year,” said Spooner.
Spooner takes pride in knowing her efforts may help make a difference for someone battling cancer.
“Through my participation in this event, I know I am making a personal impact on the breast cancer movement. The Komen 3-Day for the Cure is challenging, but the opportunity to make a difference is enormous,” she said.
The siblings grew up in Ashland, where everyone knows everyone else and families and friends support each other, through good times and bad. Boucher and Spooner have spent months preparing for the event – an event that hits close to home for the sisters, who lost their mother to the disease.
Spooner said she registered for her first walk after seeing a commercial for the event in 2007.
“We lost our mom to breast cancer in September of that same year just after I completed my first event. Since then, I’ve walked each year and finally convinced my sister, Peggy, to join in my quest to help put an end to this horrific disease,” Spooner said.
The event starts the morning of Friday, July 23, and ends with the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, July 25. Walkers cover about 20 miles a day, traveling at their own pace.
“Hundreds of volunteer crew members support the walkers through the three-day journey, providing meals, refreshments and snack stops, gear transport stations, hot showers, portable restrooms, safety on the streets and 24-hour medical services,” she said.
Spooner said there are also cheering stations along the way.
“That lifts our spirits and makes it a little bit easier to keep going,” Spooner said.
“More than 1.3 million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year,” she said.
To help the sisters reach their goal, donations can be made by visiting http://the3day.org/goto/Sistersforthecure2010. For more information or to make a donation, you can also contact Boucher by calling 227-3096.
