Breast Cancer Survivors Embark on 60-Mile Journey, Friday

This Friday, thousands of women and men will embark on a three-day, 60-mile journey across the Philadelphia area. Their purpose? To fight for a world without breast cancer.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day For The Cure "is a walk for women and men who want to make a personal difference in the fight against breast cancer," said national spokesperson, Dr. Sheri Phillips.

Participants raise a minimum of $2,300 and walk an average of 20 miles a day, stopping at designated sites for eating, sleeping and resting. Since 2003, the 3-Day has raised $600 million nationwide to support innovative breast cancer research and community-based breast health and education programs.

Last year, 2,200 women and men walked in the Philadelphia 3-Day, which raised $5.7 million in 2010 alone. This year's Philadelphia 3-Day For The Cure will run from Friday, Oct. 14 through Sunday, Oct. 16.

Not everyone who walks is a breast cancer survivor, Phillips said.

"There are some who are survivors, some who are still going through treatment while walking, some who are walking in memory or honor of a loved one, and others just recognize that it's a good cause," she said. "What's great is no matter the reason, we all come together with one goal in mind for three days: to see a world without breast cancer."

Beth Anne Gallagher is one of the women who walked in last year's Philadelphia event. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 at age 30, the Garnet Valley resident underwent a double mastectomy, after which she found out the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Chemo and radiation followed, and she's now a year into a five-year treatment plan with Tamoxifen, which she takes daily.

Gallagher participated in the walk for the first time last year. She remembers the night she signed up clearly: She went straight from a chemo session to a meeting about the 3-Day, and was sold on it right away.

"After a chemo session, you're beat, your energy is low," Gallagher said. "But when we signed up that night in February, the ideas started flowing... I was so excited."

Gallagher knew that participating in the walk and raising money for breast cancer research could make a difference in the lives of many.

"The Susan G. Komen Foundation has played a big role in all the advancement, technology and medicine for breast cancer, and I have definitely benefited from it in my own experience," she said. "I knew I wanted to help if there was any way at all I could … help somebody prevent a mother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, from having to deal with this diagnosis."

In August 2010, as the month of the walk approached, Gallagher received word that someone who attended that February meeting with her had nominated her for the 3-Day's Survivor's Circle. A special honor for walkers whom others find inspirational, the Survivor's Circle leads the opening and closing ceremonies of the weekend's events. 

"Words cannot describe how phenomenal it was," said Gallagher, who had the opportunity to carry the Courage Flag as part of the Survivor's Circle. At that time, Gallagher was still wearing a wig because of her chemo treatment, and the honor was a huge encouragement to her.

"You felt like a celebrity the whole weekend—everyone does," she said. "Kids are outside schools high-fiving you, veterans were saluting us, the different neighborhoods had snacks set up for us along the way. There's just an outpouring of people on the streets cheering you on."

Gallagher shared a number of memories from the weekend. One group of participants, she said, hands out a pin each year to a person that inspires them. Last year, they gave their pin to her. 

"When you meet someone who's going through or went through what you did, it's a special kind of connection, and it's like you're not alone," she said. "You're not alone. And it's not a death sentence either—because initially, that's what I thought. We're so lucky there are so many answers and so much research."

To cheer on Gallagher and the thousands of other survivors, family members and friends who will be walking this weekend, spectators can meet at one of several public cheering stations along the route, including stations in Chestnut Hill, Manayunk, Bala Cynwyd and Wynnewood.  Below are the details for those cheering stations, and the full schedule of events, including information on the opening and closing ceremonies, is available on the 3-Day website.

Local Cheering Stations

Chestnut Hill Cheering Station

• Friday, Oct. 14 from 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Chestnut Hill – Mile 10
• Germantown Avenue (between Gravers & Hartwell Lanes), Philadelphia, PA 19118

Manayunk Cheering Station

• Friday, Oct. 14 from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Manayunk – Mile 15.1
• Main Street (between Gay Street & Cotton Street), Philadelphia, PA 19127

Bala Cynwyd Cheering Station:

• Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8:15 to 10:15 a.m.
• Chili’s Restaurant – Mile 5.4
• City Avenue & Belmont Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Wynnewood Cheering Station:

• Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
• Presentation BVM – Mile 13.5
• 204 Haverford Rd., Wynnewood, PA 19096