Bio: Team Colorado, 44 women and one man, will walk in the first Denver Breast Cancer 3-Day Aug. 28-30. Founded by Evergreen resident Risa Holmes in 2004, the team hopes to raise $100,000 this year.
The challenge: As Team Colorado meets for a hike in Evergreen, the women talk about what motivates them. They have been training since April but the fight began long before, with a suspicion, a diagnosis, a phone call.
“The pain of walking 60 miles is not even close to chemotherapy,” says cancer survivor Jan Beunning, 66. “You can live through a blister.”
Each woman walks with a story — some are survivors, others have lost mothers and sisters. Alice Debloois, 45, says she is walking because “I don’t have anyone in my family yet to have breast cancer. I’d like to keep it that way.”
Risa Holmes has had more than enough cancer in her circle. After nine family members and friends were diagnosed in an 18-month period, Holmes channeled her grief and her considerable energy into creating Team Colorado in 2004. The team was the largest to complete the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in San Diego that year.
Since that first walk, Team Colorado has raised more than $500,000, thanks in large part to Holmes’ marketing and team-building savvy.
“You feel like you can change the world when you all work together — you can accomplish so much,” says Holmes, 43. “I don’t want my kids to have to do this walk. It puts your life in perspective.”
Beunning joined the team after she and her sister were diagnosed in 2005. This will be her fourth walk. “Walking was the best thing because I felt like I was doing something to fight it. There was so much positive energy, if there were any cancer cells, they were out of there,” she says. “For me, the walk is physically strengthening, emotionally healing and a way to give back, like all those that walked before me and helped with the development of Herceptin, the drug that probably saved my life.”
The voices: Along the way, the walkers have learned about fitness — and friendship. Many use walking poles, which help with circulation as well as burning 30 percent more calories.
Caroline Kline, 47, joined the walk after meeting Holmes at an exercise class. “I’ve sponsored friends from California in this walk for several years and they always talked about what a great experience it was. When I moved to Colorado this year, it sounded like a good way to help out a great cause, meet new Colorado friends, and train for a big event, three things I love to do,” she says.
Chris Dodge, 53, is just two years past her diagnosis, and her sister is a five-year survivor. “The neatest thing for me as I have been walking for about two months, is that I am loving the exercise, which I had not done before, and love the connection with others as I try to do training walks with other friends.”
Catherine Bernardo, 44, walks with gratitude: “I am grateful that I’m a survivor. As a wife and mother of two young children, my breast cancer diagnosis in October 2008 was a devastating blow. Fighting cancer has been the biggest emotional, physical and spiritual challenge that I have ever faced. Without the research funded by the Susan Komen foundation, I might not be a survivor today.”
Kristen Browning-Blas: 303-954-1440 or kbrowning@denverpost.com.
Walk comes to Denver
The event: The Denver 3-Day opens with a ceremony Aug. 28 at Colorado Mills mall in Lakewood. The walk will pass through Lakewood and Denver, and camp in Littleton that night. On Saturday, the route leads through Littleton and Centennial. On the final day, the group will pass through Cherry Hills and into Denver, closing with a ceremony in City Park.
Background: The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a national series of three-day, 60-mile walks to raise funds for breast cancer research. The 2008 events raised more than $110 million, of which $79 million was invested in research, education and community health programs. Eighty-five percent of the net proceeds from the Breast Cancer 3-Day benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and 15 percent goes to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.
Walk survival tips
Breast Cancer 3-Day tips:
Stay hydrated: Blisters result from friction between the skin and the sock or shoe or from moisture or perspiration. Staying well hydrated is important for blister prevention as dehydration allows the skin to fold on itself and create a friction rub.
Shoes: Buy shoes that are a half to a full size larger than your normal shoe. Break in your shoes slowly by alternating two pairs of shoes during your training.
Socks: Polyester-based socks made with Coolmax or Dri Fit fabric or wool are better than pure cotton socks for keeping feet dry. Wear two socks or double- layered socks and change to clean and dry socks halfway through your training walk. If your socks are still wet, try foot powder or spraying your feet with antiperspirant.
Hot spots: If you feel tenderness, pressure, heat, burning or pain during training, stop and change your socks. Get increased protection by applying moleskin, 2nd Skin pads or a bandage. Benzoin liquid, or Nuskin or Tough-skin spray found at medical supply stores are sometimes used to “toughen” problem areas.
No pedis: Do not get a pedicure or try to remove calluses before the event or long training walks. Fight swelling: Walking with your hands below your waist can cause your hands to swell. Keep your hands relaxed and elbows at 90 degrees as you walk. Occasionally lift your hands at chest level and pump your fists. Source:
