Newtown Neighborhood Walks

For Breast Cancer Awareness And Fundraising

Newtown residents participated in a 5K Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 21. Nearly 80 participants, including adults, children and dogs, started the breast cancer awareness walk at the Cider Mill Road cul-de-sac in Sandy Hook.  

The grassroots effort raised nearly $3,300 in donations with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Ann’s Place, The Home of I Can. Ann’s Place, located in Danbury, provides comfort and support to people living with cancer and to their loved ones.

The mantra of “No one fights alone… Newtown Stands Together” could be observed on T-shirts, roadside signs, and chalk writings during the day.

Organizers of the walk were Tracy Hoekenga, Amy Journo, and Kathleen Young. According to Ms Young, they were motivated by personal experiences as well as statistics that include one in eight women are diagnosed each year with breast cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, and the State of Connecticut has the second highest incidence rate in the country, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Participating neighbors and friends took part in a prewalk warm-up overseen by Jeanine Parsons, an Newtown Youth Academy fitness instructor.

Signs and pink ribbons were posted throughout the neighborhood.  A Jeep escort, which played a motivational music compilation, was provided for the walk, along with bottled water and first aid support.

A bittersweet moment for the participants was when they passed a neighbor’s home who had recently lost a mother and wife to a battle with breast and liver cancer, and Melissa Etheridge’s breast cancer anthem “I Run for Life” began to play. 

The event ended with the participants sharing breakfast and personal stories related to those who have battled cancer. Bagel Delight donated bagels and PepsiCo donated soft drinks and water for the postwalk breakfast.     

According to Ms Young, the organizers hope the 5K Breast Cancer Walk will become an annual event and that even more awareness and funds will be raised to help in achieving the prevention and cure for breast cancer.