Local Women Walk ‘For the Cure’
By Sandy Vondrasek

Janet Miller, Sandy Rilling and Anne Mather are planning to take a long walk in the Boston area August 15-17.

Although their 60-mile route will take them by historic downtown sites and small, Colonial-era towns, tourism isn’t their mission.

As part of the annual "Breast Cancer 3-Day," the three women will join thousands of other walkers—all wearing pink—to raise funds for breast cancer research and treatment. Nationally, "3-Day" walks are done in 14 cites, August to November.

Each walker must raise $2200 to participate in the walk. Miller, Rilling, and Mather—each of whom is walking in memory of an area woman who died of cancer—have set themselves a team goal of $10,000.

They are already well on their way to meeting that goal, and hope to exceed it: Miller already has collected close to $3000 in pledges.

Their fundraising will get a big boost next weekend, when three Randolph Village businesses—Patrick’s Place, Fenix Fine Foods, and Mugwort & Malachite—will donate a percentage of their Friday and Saturday sales to the team fund, at customers’ requests.

"We'll be setting up in front of Patrick's Place on Friday and Saturday to remind people to mention the ‘3-Day’ when they dine," Miller said.

The women have started a training schedule, provided by the walk organizer—Susan G. Komen for the Cure—in order to be able to walk 20 miles a day, for three days.

Miller confessed she was only presently at the two-mile stage, but has been reassured that support from the crowd lining the streets, and from Komen workers and volunteers help buoy walkers along.

For the two nights, she and thousands of other walkers will take shelter in tents—"a sea of pink"—at a campsite big enough to accommodate all.

Miller, a cancer survivor herself, noted that many of the walkers are breast cancer patients and survivors, or friends and relatives of those who have had breast cancer, or died because of it.

"It’s going to be very emotional," said Miller, who is walking in memory of Annie Palmer.

Ann Mather, a nurse, is walking in memory of Nancy Andors, and Sandy Rilling is walking in memory of Janet Zedick. Mather’s husband Jim will be on the support crew, during the three-day walk.

"Fighting breast cancer is very important to me," Miller added. "In the spring of 2004, I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ—that's cancer cells within the duct, but not yet invading out into other tissues.

"Mine was discovered early so I only had to go through a lumpectomy and five weeks of radiation. I got off easy," Miller added.

"My DCIS was discovered in my annual mammogram, so I've become passionate about making sure all my friends and family are getting their mammograms every year. Had I not been faithful about my mammogram in 2004, I'd have been facing a tougher battle.

"I'm walking the three-day event because I'm all about the prevention, and all about finding a cure."

Individual donations may also be made by clicking on "Donate" at www.the3day.org, and entering the last name of the team member you wish to support.