Holliston Walks to Fight Breast Cancer: October 16
If it seems as if everyone knows someone with breast cancer, that’s because the statistics are all too prevalent and real. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less than 1 in 8, according to the American Cancer Society. While breast cancer rates are declining due to earlier detection and better treatment, there are still an astounding 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., with thousands of women diagnosed each day.
On October 16, an entire town will come together between noon and 1:30 at Holliston Town Hall to remember Maryellen Miller, one of the Walk’s founders, and to kick off the 9th annual Walk Against Breast Cancer, which raises money for Dana Farber in breast cancer research and patient care. Maryellen, a wife and mother of four, who passed away from breast cancer in 2008, worked tirelessly with her sister Maryann Marcoux and a team of close friends: Kathy Chisholm, Katie Connors, Denise Cronin, Jayne Jones, Pam Poor and Dawn Waddell to raise funds for breast cancer research.
Maryellen has been described by so many as a devoted and loving mom, wife, activist, and a courageous, passionate, and caring friend to so many in the community. To date, this event has raised more than $360,000 for cancer research and treatment. Last year’s walk drew more than 400 walkers from communities throughout the area.
No one can underestimate the value of every penny raised to fight this insidious disease. While new treatments are continually being developed with varying levels of success, we have a long way to go in finding a cure.
As with every fundraising event, it takes months and months of hard work, lots of generous volunteers and merchants, and exhaustive planning to ensure success. This year’s walk will again feature a Grand Prize Drawing with a valuable collection of prizes, ranging from gift certificates and baskets to two American Airlines roundtrip tickets. Also, any walker who raises $200 or more will be entered into a drawing for an iPad. In addition, funds raised by bids on the silent auction items – highlights include an autographed Milan Lucic Bruins jersey and cases of fine wines -- will benefit the Maryellen Miller Memorial Scholarship, given to an outstanding Holliston high school student.
If you can’t walk, there are many ways to lend your support. While this is a local event, the strides made in just one day are universal. Dana Farber is a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in the development of cancer treatments used around the world.
There is profound inspiration and comfort in walking to honor those you support, miss, and love. A community of all ages and from all walks of life…. walking with friends and neighbors, with strollers, with dogs, and in rain or shine… speaks to the magnitude of activism that Maryellen ignited and the importance of moving forward with tenacity and hope.
Holliston is walking October 16. We hope you will join us.
Be a winner with the Walk ! Grand Prize Drawing – with a pair of American Airlines Tickets as the Grand Prize! Tickets on sale at Coffee Haven Saturday October 8 from 8-12 and Sunday October 9 from 8-12 in front of Superette. Suggested donation: $5 each, $10 for 3, $20 for 8 (best deal!). Tickets will also be on sale the day of the Walk on the town green from 12 -1:30. Great prizes including gift certificates, baskets of goodies, baskets of bestsellers and more! Bidders welcome on our Silent Auction items, including an authentic autographed Milan Lucic Bruins jersey, fine wines and Patriots tailgate package and another set of airline tickets!