Cancer Walk Team Needs Your Help

When Vonia Walther participated in the Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3-Day Walk in 2007, she was doing it as a way to support an aunt who was diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer.

This year, it's more personal.

In October of last year, Walther was diagnosed with the disease that affects one out of every eight women.

"I'd been getting regular mammograms since I turned 35, so, luckily, they found the cancer very early," Walther said.

Walther subsequently underwent a double mastectomy.

"It was all over one breast and there was no choice but to do a mastectomy," she said. "I had to make a decision about the other breast and decided to go ahead and make it a double mastectomy. It was a hard decision to make."

She said she felt fortunate when her doctors told her she didn't need the chemotherapy that so many other breast cancer patients must endure.

Her daughter, Sydney, 15, a student at Strawberry Crest High School, recalled how frightened she was for her mother.

"I was really scared," Sydney said. "But I knew it would be OK."

Walther was back to her job at TECO just four weeks after her surgery. But the trauma wasn't completely behind her.

"I went through all the stages of grief," she said. "There were times when my husband really worried about me. But I knew I was so much better off than some women. Reminding myself of that helped me through it."

It was in December while she was still recovering from surgery that Walther decided to participate in the 3-Day Walk, Susan G. Komen's signature event to raise funds for breast cancer programs and research.

"I decided to form a team and do the 3-Day in honor of those women who were so much worse off than me," she said.

Forming a Team for the 60-Mile Walk

Fortunately, Walther had a group of seven friends and relatives, eager to join her effort.

She teamed with Teri Kerker to co-captain For Our Girls and began training along Natures Way in Bloomingdale East this summer for the 60-mile walk to be held Oct. 28-30 in Pinellas County.

For Shelli Denington, who had lost her mother to breast cancer last year, there was no question she'd participate.

She'd done the walk before and was more than willing to walk again to support her friend and raise funds for breast cancer research.

"It's not just about raising money," she said. "It's about raising awareness."

The women acknowledge that walking 60 miles in three days can be grueling. But they agreed the blisters, achy muscles and lost toenails are worth the effort if it convinces women of the need to do self-exams and have yearly mammograms.

"It's a life-changing event," said Kerker, who walked the 3-Day last year. "The second day I was really worried I wouldn't make it, and I cried the last mile. But I walked with a lady who had just finished her last chemo treatment. And I just kept telling myself that you get over blisters a lot faster than chemo. I signed up for this year as soon as I'd finished last year's walk."

Sharon Clark cheered on walkers last year. This will be her first time walking.

"It was so emotional to watch," said Clark. "Men and women made signs and cheered the walkers on. It was one of the most touching things I've ever seen, and I wanted to be a part of it."

This is also Casey Crone's and Elaine Gibbs' first time walking. Ronda Sabey and Walther's daughter, Sydney, make up the rest of the team.

How You Can Help Them Raise Money

In addition to training, the women have been busy raising funds for the $2,300 per person participation fee.

"It's definitely an investment in time and money," Walther said.

Gibbs has been making and selling pink button bracelets to raise funds for her participation fee.

Crone, a consultant for 31 Gifts, a customized handbag and accessories retailer, is using her commission from sales to fund her fee.

Anyone interested in ordering an item can email her at Thirty1giftsbyCasey@gmail.com or visit MyThirtyOne.com and look for consultant Casey Crone.

The group's major fundraiser, however, will be a Bingo for Boobies event that will take place from 5:30-8:30 Sept. 22 at O'Brien's Irish Pub, 701 W. Lumsden Road, Brandon.

The event will include prizes, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. In addition, O'Brien's will donate 10 percent of food and drink checks from the night's sales to For Our Girls.

The team is currently looking for donations of raffle prizes as well as team sponsors to have their names printed on the For Our Girls T-shirts the team will wear during the walk.

Another fundraiser, "Cooking for a Cause," will take place at Copper Bell Café, 11228 Boyette Road, Riverview, on Monday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On that day there will be “celebrity” chefs from the area helping the fundraising efforts.

Contact Walther at walkforourgirls@gmail.com if you can help.