Photo by June Collins-McKiernan
Three of the 56 Woodinville residents who took part in the Breast Cancer 3-Day were (l-r:)Janet Christianson, Liz McVey, and Cindy Betts.

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer. Walks occur in major cities throughout the U.S. during summer and fall months.

Participants cover an average of 20 miles a day, increasing awareness for breast cancer programs and breast health messages along the way. They commit to fundraising, training and dedicating an entire weekend to the cause.

The 3-Day began in 2003 and is organized by Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and fund research to find cures for this pervasive disease.

To date, the organization has invested nearly 1 billion dollars to fulfill its promise.

The 3-Day walk in Seattle, now in its fourth year, occurred recently and 2,400 people came out to participate. They raised a total of $6.4 million. Among the participants, were 56 residents from Woodinville, who together brought in contributions of over $100,000.

For some, like Cindy Betts, the walk has become an annual event. Betts was motivated to walk the first time in 2006. “I’m a survivor,” she explains. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and after undergoing three lumpectomies and a mastectomy, I am now cancer-free. I’m a real proponent of mammograms because that’s the way I found out I had the disease. Mammograms saved my life.”

Betts participates in the 3-Day because she wants to bring awareness to the disease. She adds, “Every two and a half minutes, someone is diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 200,000 women and men are diagnosed a year and over 40,000 lose their lives to the disease. It’s gotten so that most people know someone who has either had the disease, is fighting it or who has died from it.”

Four months before the event, Betts begins her training. She walks from three to seven hours a day. She also spends time sending out letters to everyone she knows to ask for their support. This year she raised $11,000 and the contributions are still coming in.

“People have been so generous in their response,” says Betts. Although she admits that the walk is challenging, the cheering stations and support along the way really help to encourage participants. “It’s really an unbelievable event,” she adds. “You get to connect with so many people and hear their stories. You laugh and you cry and you feel a strong bond with everyone out there. It’s just such a special experience.” A number of the participants walk in teams, comprised of friends, family members and co-workers. Liz McVey and her daughter Maggie, 18, along with Janet Christianson and her daughter Dana, 21, did the walk together for the first time.

The Woodinville foursome was motivated to enter the event after McVey’s mother passed away from IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer) a year ago.

“It was just something we felt we wanted to do,” says McVey. “It was our way of doing something to help.” For these women, the greatest challenge was raising the money. “It’s not easy asking for money,” adds McVey, “but once you realize how supportive people are, it gets a bit easier.”

The team made it through the event without problem. Though they got blisters and had sore feet, none of them complained. As McVey says,“What we experienced was nothing compared to what people with breast cancer experience on a daily basis.”

The Woodinville women found the event to be a life-changing journey, filled with memories and a collection of moments that each will treasure.

“It was a mind boggling experience,” comments McVey, “and the people were incredible. I definitely want to do it again. It’s something that really has an impact.”