Mother & Daughter to Share Three-Day Breast Cancer Walk

Mother & Daughter to Share Three-Day Breast Cancer Walk

When Jess Matthews comes home in May after completing her freshman year at Harvard, she and her mom, Rochester schoolteacher Debbie Matthews, will spend three days together on a project that means a lot to both of them. They’ll be participating in the Avon Three-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, which will take place May 18-20, covering the 60 miles between Leominster and Boston, Massachusetts.

Breast cancer is something this mother and daughter have personal experience, with, since Debbie, a breast cancer survivor, was diagnosed with the disease while Jess was in high school.

"According to the American Cancer Society, over 180,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and over 40,000 of them will die from it," said Jess. Eradicating cancer in our world is important to both of us, and we want to do everything we can to help."

The net proceeds from the three-day walk will help fund cancer research, a national financial assistance program for medically undeserved women who need breast biopsies and support services, advocacy training, community based health programs, and more.

"Mom and I hope that people will support our effort by sending pledges to this cause," Jess said.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the walk, may do so by calling Debbie Matthews at 767-3004 to obtain a pledge form, or by sending a check made out to "Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day" to her at P.O. Box 381, Rochester, Vt. 05767.

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By Martha Slater