HOULTON, Maine — The Gentle Memorial Building was flooded with a sea of pink Saturday morning as more than 200 walkers turned out for the 11th annual Bridge to Hope Cancer Walk.
Bridge to Hope helps 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 an annual scholarship for a local high school student.
This year’s event collected more than $8,000 for the Bridge to Hope group.
“We are very informal,” Amy Hocking said. “We get names, sometimes given to us anonymously, and we reach out to them to see how we can help.”
This year’s event honored Liz Ervin and Rachel Horton, two local women who are currently battling breast cancer.
“It’s overwhelming,” Ervin said. “Every day I am amazed at how many people are there to offer support or prayer. There are so many people getting hurt by cancer, but hopefully we will all make it through in a good way.”
Ervin said she has been receiving chemotherapy since October, 2015, taking her medication for 14 straight days, with one week off. For checkups, she goes to Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer..
“Events like these are invigorating,” Ervin said. “On days when you are feeling down and need a little extra boost, it’s nice to see so many people supporting you. It does wear you out though, because it is so emotional.”
Horton said Saturday’s walk was the first time she attended the event since receiving her cancer diagnosis two years ago.
“I am so pleased to see such a great turnout,” Horton said. “This group is so supportive. When I started down this road two years ago, I didn’t know who this group was. But they have helped in so many ways. Seeing so many survivors here today, it’s encouraging.”
Horton added she now takes nothing for granted because “you are never promised tomorrow, so you live for today.”
In October of 2005, the first Bridge To Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Walk through downtown Houlton was held. That year there were approximately 50 participants who raised about $800, which was donated to the American Cancer Society.
In 2006, Kim Folsom, Dee Henderson and Marie Carmichael joined the cause and have since been joined by Pam and Amy Hocking. Each year since then, participation has grown and the benefits to the local area have skyrocketed.
The walk originally was to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but has evolved to help individuals with all types of cancer. It has raised closed to $100,000 over the past 10 years, with 90 percent of that money helping local people.
The group also helps cancer patients by giving them a boost with a surprise delivery of flowers or a turkey at Thanksgiving.
“It’s really just a way for us to meet some needs and show people we are thinking about them, rooting them and encouraging them in their battle with cancer,” Amy Hocking said. “It [cancer] is not going away. Even if there is a breakthrough cure, there will always be a need to assist people to get the help they need. We are all about hope and how we can spread a little bit of hope to make somebody’s struggle a little bit easier.”
