Mentor Team Walking To Raise Funds For Cancer Research

The women of Pink Passion have all been touched by breast cancer in some way.

Starting Friday, these women will walk 60 miles over three days to raise awareness for breast cancer.

More importantly, the Mentor-based team has already raised more than $10,000 that will be invested in community-based breast health programs and breast cancer research.

Each teammate has her own reason for participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk.

Team Captain Denise Dannels and her cousin, Megan Weyant, walk so other people won't have to go through what Megan's mother, Sharon, went through.

Sharon was diagnosed with breast cancer and ultimately lost her fight with the disease in 2010. However, her sacrifice and struggle were not in vain because they inspired Dannels and Weyant to help others.

Dannels first did the Komen 3-Day Walk in 2008. Weyant attended with her mother that first year; and Dannels told Weyant, who was in high school at the time, that it wouldn’t be long before she was old enough to walk with her.

Weyant, who just finished her freshman year in college, is not just walking this year. She raised $2,300 for the cause.

Teammate Betty Jones was inspired to help when her former co-worker at Orwell Natural Gas became a breast cancer survivor, which coincidentally happened the same year Jones' son passed away.

Jones said her son “was a very sensitive and caring person." Moreover, she said she is following his example by helping others.

Jones has wanted to do this walk for the past three years, but was unable to because of a hip injury. But after three years of physical therapy, she can finally participate.

Cancer afflicted several members of teammate Kristin Peters' family.

“Throughout my life I've been moved by people who have shown strength either against breast cancer or pre-cancerous cells," Peters said. "These include my great-grandmother, grandmother, paternal aunt, and a couple of friends. In one form or another cancer has touched the lives of many in my family, including some who unfortunately did not win their battle against it."

Peters said she's participated in other fundraisers for cancer treatment and research but did not know about the Komen 3-Day Walk until a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

During the last three months of training, the team has endured back injuries, broken wrists and major surgeries. None of that will matter Friday.

They said their hope is that at least one life will be changed for the better, and one family will not have to endure losing someone they love to cancer.

People can still donate to the cause by visiting the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure website at www.the3day.org.