WALKING FOR LIFE; CANCER FUND-RAISER REACHES MALIBU.Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer With memories of months of treatment for breast cancer still painfully fresh in her mind, Colleen Shaffer is ready to come back to the world of the living. The Newhall woman was one of almost 2,900 people who participated in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile walk for men and women who want to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer. 3-Day participants commit to fundraising, training, and dedicating an entire weekend to the cause. walk this weekend, raising about $5 million for breast cancer education and early detection programs. Shaffer, who finished radiation treatments only two weeks ago, said the walk represented a symbolic journey for her. ``When I came to the finish line I walked out of hell and into paradise Into Paradise were a group from Dublin, Ireland whose influences included Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen. They formed in 1986 as 'Backwards into Paradise', and released their debut EP 'Blue Light' in 1989 on the independent label Setanta. ,'' she said. The 60-mile walk started Friday morning in Santa Barbara, with walkers camping out along the way each night, and ended Sunday afternoon at Malibu's Zuma Beach. ``We saved lives this week,'' Shannon Hovey, manager of the walk's volunteer staff, said during closing ceremonies. ``There are women who we will never meet who will be able to detect their breast cancer early enough to survive with the money we raised here.'' Avon Products Inc., the cosmetics company, started its Avon Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade in 1993, and established the walk in Los Angeles last year. This year the walk was expanded to three other cities - Chicago, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Atlanta - with the Los Angeles event raising the most money. More than $15 million has been raised this year. Walking the entire course took some serious training, especially for the breast cancer survivors who, in some cases, had just finished their therapy within the last few months. ``This is not an event for the faint of heart,'' said Pat Sterling, manager of the Avon Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade. ``You have to be willing to train to walk 60 miles. That's a process that requires a lot of time and a tremendous commitment.'' Most of the walkers were participating in honor of a close friend or family member who had breast cancer. But a handful of others, like Shaffer, were afflicted af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, with, and survived, the disease. Some were still recovering from treatment, but determined to do the walk. As tough as the walk may have seemed, they said, it was nothing compared to what they had been through with the disease. The walk was a ``piece of cake,'' said cancer survivor Lori Plager, 40, of West Los Angeles
Some tried to keep a sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour under the sunny, clear weather. Shaffer, for example, who underwent a double mastectomy mastectomy (măstĕk`təmē), surgical removal of breast tissue, usually done as treatment for breast cancer. There are many types of mastectomy. In general, the farther the cancer has spread, the more tissue is taken. this year, rigged up a straw hat with two foam breasts on it and the words ``Malibu or bust'' over them. It was her way of maintaining a sense of humor in light of surviving a disease believed to be the leading killer of women between ages 35 and 55. ``You need to, because people don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. how to approach you,'' said Shaffer, 40. ``By wearing it I can tell my story.'' Thousands of proud family members gathered at Zuma to cheer them on, waving signs like ``You are an inspiration Mom'' as they applauded. ``It was the most powerful thing she's done,'' said Mike Benavidez, of Long Beach about the participation of his wife, Leslie. ``We both have lost close people to breast cancer so we know how important this was.'' The Avon walk was one of several cancer-related fund-raisers around Southern California on Sunday. More than 15,000 people were expected at the American Cancer Society's third annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, which was held around the Rose Bowl. About 2,500 were expected at the FILA fila /fi·la/ (fi´lah) [L.] plural of filum. fila [L.] plural of filum. City Challenge 5K/10K race and Kiddie kid·die or kid·dy n. pl. kid·dies Slang A small child. kiddie Noun Informal a child K Fun Run to raise funds for the Ronald S. Hirshberg Pancreatic Cancer pancreatic cancer Malignant tumour of the pancreas. Risk factors include smoking, a diet high in fat, exposure to certain industrial products, and diseases such as diabetes and chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer is more common in men. Research Center at University of California, Los Angeles UCLA comprises the College of Letters and Science (the primary undergraduate college), seven professional schools, and five professional Health Science schools. Since 2001, UCLA has enrolled over 33,000 total students, and that number is steadily rising. . And two members of the band Third Eye Blind headlined BreastFest '99 Sunday night at the Key Club in Los Angeles. The event benefited UCLA's Jansson Cancer Center. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--Color) Breast cancer survivors are congratulated during the closing ceremonies of the 60-mile Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day walk in Malibu. (2--3--Color) Amanda Laudenbach hugs Cathy Tamkin. More than 2,000 walkathon participants raised $5 million for breast cancer awareness. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer |
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