Team W.I.S.H. Arizona

WHY WE WALK...?

It's a new year and while alumni members are committing to another year of fund raising, wanting to make a difference and signing up again for the AZ 3 Day 60 Mile Breast Cancer Walk, new members are joining and taking on the challenge. 

Come join us on our journey, follow us through the year to know and understand 'Why We Walk'.

My name is Susan Luft and this will be my 3rd AZ 3Day Walk. In 2006, I signed up for the 3-day and volunteered to be 'training leader'.  I got to know the team members during the training and heard several incredible stories from survivors about their experiences with breast cancer and recovery.  I had never known anyone with breast cancer or any kind of cancer.  This was all new to me. I learned about chemotherapy and what it was like to loose your hair. The event was amazing and only those who have done it really understand.  I decided to do it again in 2007.  We were well into training when I was diagnosedwith Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Suddenly I was in 8 rounds of chemo and 17 treatments of radiation.  My oncologist gave me permission to go ahead with the 3-day and I started my chemo treatments the day after the event.  By Christmas, I lost my hair.  I finished my treatments by the end of April 2008.  I could never have done it with the information provided by and the support of the good friends I met by participating in the 3-day.  NOW I'm back in 2009 - healthy and strong and ready to go!!

My name is Holly Baker and 2009 will be my third AZ 3-Day Walk.  There is a song about why we walk and I reflect on its words and meaning every time I hear it.  "I walk to remember...I walk to remember and honor those who have not survived breast cancer." "I walk to celebrate...to celebrate those who have conquered and those who continue their journey."  I also celebrate my teammates who walk shoulder to shoulder with me.  I also walk in hope and strength to push on in finding a cure.  Every time I walk the 3Day and see the streets  lined with cheering stations, filled with those who are there to say thank you, support us and hope for a cure, it re-confirms my feelings that I am doing a small part in something that is special and meaningful...and someday...successful.  I walk because I CAN. I walk so my daughters and future generations won't have to. 

  My name is Connie Woo and I am a member of Team W.I.S.H. I walk because I need a fresh start as much as I want to give one to someone. I walk because breast cancer is the one cancer that no one in my family has ever gotten it and if they do I want to know I was proactive.  I walk because I want to make a difference.

  My name is Linda Kacmarsky and I am the founder & captain of Team W.I.S.H.  As a breast cancer survivor, I am walking to celebrate those who have survived and honor those who have lost their battle with the disease.  When a cure is found, I can say I was part of it.

  My name is Dyanne Mogan and I am a member of Team W.I.S.H.  I am walking because I can.  I am walking for those men and women who cannot.  I am walking for those dear to me - friends, family and classmates - those who have lost their courageous battle with cancer.  As Susan G. Komen for the Cure explains, of the 200,000 American women diagnosed with cancer this year, approximately 40,000 will die.  This is my motivation for joining Team W.I.S.H. and for walking so far.  I am walking in the hope that together we will find a cure and for those individuals who, despite enduring the agony of breast cancer, demonstrate an awesome spirt and faith in the belief that one day we will end breast cancer forever.  At the age of thirteen, a tragic car accident claimed the life of my 21 year old sister and left me crippled for two years.  If my sister were here, she would walk with me.  Therefore, because I can walk I will do so with my sister in my heart and mind and for those who cannot.

My name is Carol Stacy and this will be my 4th AZ 3Day breast cancer walk.  I had always wanted to do the 60 mile walk and for such a great cause and also because I had a girlfriend who had been fighting this crappy cancer for over 8 years.  The second year of the walk, she passed away.  The next year a daughter, of one of our team members lost her battle. The longer I'm involved in this fight, it has become more apparent that we need to continue to raise funds to find a cure.  For a while I wondered why after 25 years that Susan G. Komen has been around, a cure had not been found.  But then it happened, another girl on our team got breast cancer but because the technology and drugs were there to help her and give her a clear bill of health...we are doing the right thing and it is paying off.  I will maintain my faith that we will find a cure, continue to discover new drugs and develop new procedures... so I'm in for the fight!  I don't want my daughter nor my beautiful granddaughter, Sara, to ever... ever have to go through what so many women and men are going through.  If this is my purpose in life... then the road I travel is with thousands and thousands of others who feel the same way. I hope as you read 'why I walk' , their words will inspire you to join our challenge!  Be safe and remember....fight for a cure!

You Must Be The Change That You Seek In The World ~ Ghandi

My name is John Lodola, Jr. I am a new team member and participating in the AZ 3Day Breast Cancer walk in honor of my dear friend, Kathy.  She was recently diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer.  Kathy has been an inspiration to me in so many ways over the past 13 years.  We met shortly after I graduated from college.  She has been my peer, a mentor, an informal leader and my friend.  There are over 2500 miles between us and I cannot be there for her while she bravely faces the challenges before her.  However, I can do something.  I can walk. And, I can relish in the fact that she knows how much I care about her, the impacts that she has had on my life, and what her friendship means to me.  I'm walking for Kathy!

My name is Sandra Gasbarri and this will be my second 3Day walk!  I walk to contribute as much as I can to the cause to eradicate breast cancer.  My niece with two young children and two of my friends, who are in their prime, were all stricken and are survivors. I am optimistic and want to walk for them and all who are plagued by the disease.

My name is Ellen Wagner and I walk because we NEED to find a CURE!!!  This is not an option, it is a MUST!!  With over 40,000 women and men, dying each year of breast cancer, we all need to do what we can to find a CURE!!  I can help by walking.

I am Julia Hernandez (4th from right)...I moved to Arizona from Washington in February 2007 to be closer to my mom because she was diagnosed with gynecological cancer.  I knew that if this disease took her, my girls would not get that birthday, Christmas and other times to make memories with my mom.  My mom is cancer free now, checking every 3 months still for the same enduring news.  So, I walk because it was the only thing left for me to do...I couldn't dry anymore tears or sit in a laboratory looking for a cure.  I know if we can cure one cancer, we can cure others.  This walk was my time to reflect and gather with like-minded men and women that felt what I felt...without having to say anything. 

Heather Pendergraft is walking...the reason I have decided to walk is for a couple of reasons. The most important one is to help others. I have been one of the lucky ones who has not gotten this disease but I have friends and family that have been touched by breast cancer.  I am the type of person who wants to help others any way I can and if lacing up my sneakers and walking 60 miles will help somebody... even just one person, then I have succeeded. I also hope that one day the next generation will not have to go through what so many people are going through and the only way to make that possible is through research and education and most importantly awareness!  It could happen to anyone at any given time and that too is why I am walking.

I am Jessica Wilson and I am walking so that one day a single mother won't have to go home to her two teenage children and break the news to them that she has breast cancer, so that a woman won't ever have to hear the words...'the cancer is back', so a son won't have to travel to his mother's bedside and console her after a masectomy, so that people can start praying for happiness instead of healthiness.  I'm walking to be part of the cure!

My name is Heather Toplak...when you are unsure of what the future holds, look into the eyes of a child. they hold the key to strength, determination and the ability to combat unknown fear.  They hold the wishes for today and the dreams for tomorrow.  In February 2008, my husband and I planned to join the 3Day crew team. A diagnosis of breast cancer changed our lives overnight.  I underwent a double mastectomy, six rounds of chemotherapy, reconstructive surgery and two follow-up surgeries.  Depression followed.  Not exactly how I wanted to spend nine months of my life.  While I was fighting, my husband was training.  He walked the 2008 Breast Cancer 3 Day.  I met him at the finish line and this year...we will walk together.  I have lost dear friends and family to the disease. They will be my angels guiding me. I have friends still enduring treatments.  They are my hope. I have a daughter     and generations to watch grow.  They should never have put a face to the word breast cancer...we must find a cure!