Amber Willard
LA CRESCENTA -- Wednesday, while her friends are preparing for the
AVON Breast Cancer 3-Day in Los Angeles, Sue Peters was hopping a plane
for Atlanta, to walk in its event.
Last year, the La Crescenta woman walked in the Los Angeles event with
friend Julia Leeth, who did not register in time for this year's walk.
Peters' walk begins Friday in Atlanta and the Los Angeles walk is Oct.
27-29 from Santa Barbara to Malibu.
"Julia and I were committed to walking together," Peters said from the
living room of her home Tuesday afternoon, her bag packed on the floor
next to her for the 60 mile walk. "Our only option was to go somewhere
else."
Now the duo says they'll walk in a different city each year. For
friends Mary Kober and Jane Farrell, just walking in the local event is
enough.
"I'm the reason I'm doing it," said Farrell, who last year was in
chemotherapy being treated for breast cancer. This year, the La Crescenta
woman will walk in a pink shirt, which designates survivors.
Breast cancer also hits close to home for Peters, whose cousin Heather
died from the disease Friday. When Peters walks in Atlanta on Saturday,
the rest of her family will attend a memorial service for Heather, who
was 28. Peters also has an aunt who is a 20-year survivor, who will be
one of several people on a cloth list Peters will wear when she walks.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, according to
event information. Money raised from each walk, in which each participant
must raise at least $1,800, will benefit breast cancer research, support
services for women with breast cancer and nonprofit breast health
programs.
To train for arduous walk, Peters and Leeth walked from northern La
Crescenta to the Glendale Galleria, some 15 miles away, and back. When
Peters returns from Atlanta, she plans to walk the same route with
Farrell and Kober as they prepare for the Los Angeles walk.
For information about the walk and how to donate, call (888) 332-9286.
