NewsStudent LifeFaculty/StaffService
Faculty members to participate in breast cancer walk
Aug 25, 2005 2:00 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
In the United States, the rate of new cases of breast cancer has been steadily increasing by a little over one percent per year since the 1940s, and in 2005 alone, an estimated 211,240 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women, according to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
It is statistics such as these that inspire thousands of people nationwide to participate in the Komen Foundation’s Breast Cancer 3-Day each year. Beginning Sept. 30, Darlington faculty members Angela Pieroni and Sunny Cox will walk 60 miles over a three-day period to raise money for breast cancer research and patient support programs.
“I am inspired by members of the Darlington community who have faced breast cancer and, also, the students who have lost their mothers to the disease. I, too, have family members who have suffered from it,” said Pieroni, Middle School teacher. “I am participating in the 3-Day because I felt I had too many risk factors in my own life – I was overweight, had a family history of breast cancer, a high stress factor and was over 35. Most importantly, I have a daughter, and I don’t want her to ever have to worry about this disease.
“By training since January, I have lost 30 pounds and feel that I am much healthier. This walk is helping me reduce my risk factors, is making students in my dorm and on my cheerleading squad aware of this wonderful cause, has involved several co-workers in training with me and has raised money for breast cancer research.”
Cox feels that she and Pieroni are prepared for the 60-mile walk. “We started out [training] with about one mile per day, and have worked our way up to four miles plus. This summer, I was in New England with my family and did at least three miles per day. I also did one six- and one nine-mile walk,” said Cox. “I have already gained so much from this 3-Day experience. Beyond the physical well being, I feel a deep satisfaction from doing something for the fight against breast cancer. I’m really looking forward to being with thousands of participants for a great weekend of walking, laughing and some crying as well. It will be good for my soul.”
Other members of the Darlington community who have participated in the Breast Cancer 3-Day include Susan Griffeth and Rebekah Kinney, who walked in 2002.
“The 3-Day was truly one of the most rewarding, painful and yet uplifting events I have ever experienced,” said Kinney. “It is amazing to be with such incredible people who are determined to accomplish the same goal … I hope the funds I raised made a difference in the fight against breast cancer, and I encourage everyone to help by making donations so that Sunny and Angela can have a successful walk.”
Griffeth recalls the last leg of the walk. “[Rebekah and I] sang every song we could think of, especially the ones from TV when we were little, and I think we know just about everything imaginable about each other. Over 60 miles, you tend to share a lot about yourself,” she said. “Getting close to the end, you could see the people lining the streets and cheering you on. It gave me chill bumps. I had my mom, my husband and kids there for support when I finished, and that was priceless.”
The Breast Cancer 3-Day is held in 12 various locations across the country, including Atlanta. Funds raised by all of the Breast Cancer 3-Day events are combined, with the majority of the net proceeds supporting international breast cancer research. Remaining funds (up to 25 percent) are provided to local communities to fund breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. So far this year, there have been a total of 1,780 teams represented in the first six walks, with those teams alone raising nearly $18 million for breast cancer.
Each participant is asked to raise a minimum of $2,100. You may give donations in support of Pieroni or Cox at their personal donation Web sites.
The Komen Foundation is the nation’s largest private funder of breast cancer research and community outreach programs. For more than 20 years, the foundation has raised and granted millions of dollars for the fight against breast cancer.
It is statistics such as these that inspire thousands of people nationwide to participate in the Komen Foundation’s Breast Cancer 3-Day each year. Beginning Sept. 30, Darlington faculty members Angela Pieroni and Sunny Cox will walk 60 miles over a three-day period to raise money for breast cancer research and patient support programs.
“I am inspired by members of the Darlington community who have faced breast cancer and, also, the students who have lost their mothers to the disease. I, too, have family members who have suffered from it,” said Pieroni, Middle School teacher. “I am participating in the 3-Day because I felt I had too many risk factors in my own life – I was overweight, had a family history of breast cancer, a high stress factor and was over 35. Most importantly, I have a daughter, and I don’t want her to ever have to worry about this disease.
“By training since January, I have lost 30 pounds and feel that I am much healthier. This walk is helping me reduce my risk factors, is making students in my dorm and on my cheerleading squad aware of this wonderful cause, has involved several co-workers in training with me and has raised money for breast cancer research.”
Cox feels that she and Pieroni are prepared for the 60-mile walk. “We started out [training] with about one mile per day, and have worked our way up to four miles plus. This summer, I was in New England with my family and did at least three miles per day. I also did one six- and one nine-mile walk,” said Cox. “I have already gained so much from this 3-Day experience. Beyond the physical well being, I feel a deep satisfaction from doing something for the fight against breast cancer. I’m really looking forward to being with thousands of participants for a great weekend of walking, laughing and some crying as well. It will be good for my soul.”
Other members of the Darlington community who have participated in the Breast Cancer 3-Day include Susan Griffeth and Rebekah Kinney, who walked in 2002.
“The 3-Day was truly one of the most rewarding, painful and yet uplifting events I have ever experienced,” said Kinney. “It is amazing to be with such incredible people who are determined to accomplish the same goal … I hope the funds I raised made a difference in the fight against breast cancer, and I encourage everyone to help by making donations so that Sunny and Angela can have a successful walk.”
Griffeth recalls the last leg of the walk. “[Rebekah and I] sang every song we could think of, especially the ones from TV when we were little, and I think we know just about everything imaginable about each other. Over 60 miles, you tend to share a lot about yourself,” she said. “Getting close to the end, you could see the people lining the streets and cheering you on. It gave me chill bumps. I had my mom, my husband and kids there for support when I finished, and that was priceless.”
The Breast Cancer 3-Day is held in 12 various locations across the country, including Atlanta. Funds raised by all of the Breast Cancer 3-Day events are combined, with the majority of the net proceeds supporting international breast cancer research. Remaining funds (up to 25 percent) are provided to local communities to fund breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. So far this year, there have been a total of 1,780 teams represented in the first six walks, with those teams alone raising nearly $18 million for breast cancer.
Each participant is asked to raise a minimum of $2,100. You may give donations in support of Pieroni or Cox at their personal donation Web sites.
The Komen Foundation is the nation’s largest private funder of breast cancer research and community outreach programs. For more than 20 years, the foundation has raised and granted millions of dollars for the fight against breast cancer.
