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By Rachel Kytonen
rachel.kytonen@ecm-inc.com
Each one of them is walking for their own personal reasons or as a result of their own personal experiences. But they all have one common goal: to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
A group of local women will walk in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure Breast Cancer 3-Day August 24-26. The 3-Day is a 60-mile walk that takes place over three days, with participants averaging 20 miles a day.
Right: The “Walking for Pat” team held a meeting Thursday, March 29. The team includes Madge Lillimoen, Dee Dee Kahring, Pat Tewalt, Donna Larsen, Sheri Hartzell, Ronda Fenlon and Beaner Fenlon.
Donna Larsen of Isanti will participating in her third 3-Day walk. During a meeting Thursday, March 29, she said she first got involved in the walk when her daughter came across the event while doing research for a women’s studies project.
Larsen said this year she decided to talk to others about walking the 3-Day with her, so the team has been gathering at each other’s homes to discuss the event and fundraising efforts.
Even though the event isn’t until August, the team needs to raise $14,500 in order to participate in the walk. So far they have raised $775.
The team’s name, “Walking for Pat,” is in honor of Pat Tewalt who is a two-time survivor of breast cancer. She first had breast cancer in 2000 and had a clean bill of health until a mammogram in September 2006 showed it had returned. After going through treatments, she is now cancer-free again.
Tewalt said she was touched to learn the team was going to walk in her honor.
“This is just awesome to me,” Tewalt said. “When the team told me they were going to walk for me, I told them I’d just be so honored if they’d do that for me. I really don’t know what to say, it’s very overwhelming.”
Larsen said she decided to keep participating in the 3-Day because of Tewalt and what she was going through.
“I decided to keep doing it because I had known Pat [Tewalt] and what she was going through,” Larsen said. “The more you talk about this, the more you realize how many people this touches.”
Isanti resident Ronda Fenlon and her daughter Beaner will also be participating in the 3-Day.
Ronda said after attending her first planning meeting two weeks ago, she didn’t think she would walk the 3-Day.
“I wasn’t going to plan on walking after I left the meeting,” Ronda said. “But as I was driving home, I thought I’m healthy and I like to walk. And then I thought about how mothers, sisters, friends and children can be impacted by cancer.”
Ronda said she was nervous by the amount of money each walker was required to raise, but her worries were put to rest after speaking at a women’s luncheon at her church and receiving several generous donations to support the cause.
Beaner, who is getting married in June, agreed to have a donation site at her four bridal showers in support of the fundraising efforts. Beaner’s sister will also be walking in the 3-Day.
She said she decided to participate after hearing about the 3-Day on the radio and her mom said she was going to participate.
“I want to be a part of the walk because it raises awareness about cancer,” Beaner said. “My dad had cancer so I know what it feels like to have a loved one going through that and I also know Pat [Tewalt] through church and what she’s gone through.”
Sherri Hartzell of Zimmerman said she decided to participate after hearing about the 3-Day the past few years.
“Like everyone else, I know people affected by cancer and thought the 3-Day would be a good thing to do,” Hartzell said. “I really want to say I walked 60 miles in three days.”
According to the Breast Cancer 3-day website, www.the3day.org, this year, more than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will lose their lives to the disease. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and every 13 minutes, the disease claims another life.
How you can help
The “Walking for Pat” team has an account set up at Minnco Credit Union. Checks can be made out to Breast Cancer 3-Day and sent to: Minnco Credit Union, 235 West First Avenue, Cambridge, MN 55008.
The team is also having a garage sale May 5 as part of Isanti’s city-wide garage sale day. All proceeds from the garage sale will go toward the team’s fundraising efforts. The garage sale will be held at the home of Madge Lillimoen, 200 4th Ave. South in Isanti.
Donations can also be made online by visiting www.the3day.org and clicking on “Donate.” Select the “Twin Cities” icon on the left side and then you will be asked to type in the participant’s name. Type in any of the team members names —Donna Larsen, DeeDee Kahring, Rhonda Fenlon, Sherri Hartzell, Beaner Fenlon or Patty Schallen — to ensure the donation will benefit the “Walking for Pat” team.
The team members are also willing to talk to any organization about their cause and fundraising plans.
For more information about how you can help the “Walking for Pat” team email Donna Larsen at donna@larsengardens.com.
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