Date: Fri 23-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

breast-cancer-Sharp-Taylor

Full Text:

Foot Soldiers In The War On Breast Cancer

(with photos)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

Julie Sharp's cousin died at the age of 44 of breast cancer. So when Mrs Sharp

picked up a brochure advertising Avon's Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, she decided

to sign up.

Lori Taylor, a hair stylist at Ricci's Salon, signed up because her friend,

Jana, asked her to participate.

"Her mom died of breast cancer when she was 15," Ms Taylor explained. "In

December of last year, a very close personal friend of mine died of cancer.

Reading about the walk inspired me."

The two women will be among 2,000 who have signed up to walk the 60 miles from

West Point to Manhattan on August 27-29 to raise money for awareness and early

detection of breast cancer.

The participants will walk 20 miles a day, sleeping at night in tents provided

by the event organizers.

"I usually run about two miles a day, but walking 20 miles a day is very

different," Mrs Sharp said. "I've been walking to get myself in condition,

usually two miles in the morning with my husband. Fifteen miles is the longest

I've walked in a day. "

The challenge of the walk is very important to the two women.

"Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women, and

the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55," Ms Taylor

said. "One out of nine women in the United States will develop breast cancer

in her lifetime. Nearly 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in America

at the moment."

More ominous is the women who have breast cancer and don't know it, she said.

"Currently 1 million women in the United States [are estimated to] have the

disease and do not know it. In addition, they probably will not know about

their potential fatal disease for another five to eight years.

"That's why I am walking," she said. "I'm walking to do something big --

something that would challenge me as much as breast cancer challenges two

million survivors in the United States."

To walk, each woman had to raise $1,800 in pledges by July 31. They already

have met the requirement but are continuing to collect pledges to help in the

battle against breast cancer.

"Please keep in mind how far I am walking and how long I have to train for the

walk between now and August," Ms Taylor said in a letter that she sent to

friends.

Net proceeds from the event will benefit Avon's Breast Cancer Awareness

Crusade, a non-profit initiative of Avon Products, Inc. In partnership with

the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO), grants are

awarded to non-profit organizations that educate women about the facts of

breast cancer and the benefits of early detection and treatment.

Mrs Sharp's brother, Dr Jeffrey Friedman, sent a letter to his patients at

Community Health Associates in Newtown to ask for their support of the event.

"As we all know, breast cancer affects each one of us," he said. "Most of us

have known women who have had breast cancer. They are our mothers, our

friends, our sisters, our cousins, our daughters and our wives. My sister is

walking in memory of our cousin Judy and in honor of the survivors in our

family.

"She's walking to make sure that early detection, the most significant factor

in breast cancer survival, is available to all women. She's walking to make

sure that all women are aware of this and have the opportunity to take

positive action to protect themselves."

Mrs Sharp said a few people have expressed concern that because Avon does not

know how much money will be raised, and there are expenses for providing tents

and food for the walkers, it has no way of guaranteeing what percentage of

donations will go back to the cause. Obviously, the more money that is raised,

the more that will go back to services, she said.

"The walk has already had benefits for breast cancer awareness and it hasn't

even taken place yet," Mrs Sharp said. "All of the Avon ladies (salespersons)

are handing out breast cancer information. The brochures are in stores and

there is a video."

A Westport resident, Mrs Sharp will celebrate her 49th birthday on the last

day of the walk.

"I think it will be really exciting to cross the George Washington Bridge on

the last day and wind up in Central Park," she said. "It will be like a giant

birthday party for me.

Pledge forms for Avon's Breast Cancer 3-Day are available in Newtown at

Ricci's Salons, 99 Main Street, and Community Health Associates, 54 South Main

Street.