Ramona Teams Raise $53,000 in 3 Day Event to Fight Breast Cancer

Susan Chavez, left, and Jessica Garcia, front, with other team members. Photos Submitted by sharon Garcia

By Laura Calverley

Many Ramonans participated in the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk Oct. 14-16, covering 20 miles a day to help fight breast cancer, and raising more than $50,000 for the cause.

The annual event, which drew more than 4,200 walkers this year in San Diego and is paralleled in cities across the United States, benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.

Team Ramona Country Milers, a group of 16 women and one man, raised $45,000. Four women from Ramona Beauty Supply, including owner Teresa Hanvey and her sister Vikki Dancan, raised more than $8,400.

Other participants from Ramona joined teams from other towns. They all spent a year training, some walking four times a week and holding fundraisers ranging from car washes to bake sales.

“I thought it would be a good cause to get involved in with my daughter,” said Sharon Garcia, team leader for Ramona’s Country Milers. “We’ve walked together for three years now, since she was 16. This year, my son also got involved, working on the crew.”

Ramona Country Milers nearing the end of the 60 mile walk.

Dancan added, “It was a wonderful experience. Very inspiring. We all have people close to us, family and clients, that have been affected.”

Participants spend three days waking up before sunrise, walking about 20 miles a day, (stopping occasionally at an event pit stop for a snack, drink and potty break), enduring tired muscles and sore feet, sleeping in a tent and getting up and doing it all over again. Yet all along the route, they are cheered and applauded. Family and friends who have lost loved ones, women and families who are currently fighting the disease, and breast cancer survivors are all there. Lasting friendships are born.

“It’s very emotional,” Garcia said. “People who have breast cancer are watching along the route and they say, ‘Thanks for walking.’ ”

Part of the team in the “holding area.”

Jennifer Jenkin, a Country Miler, walked for the first time.

“I had heard about the Breast Cancer 3 Day for years and I told myself, ‘I’m going to do that one day,’” she said. “There were three beautiful women on our team who were affected by breast cancer, and my sister-in-law is also a survivor.”

“The walk was difficult at times, but the crowds cheered you on,” Jenkin added. “All of a sudden, the aches and long miles ahead were overridden by joy and tears.”

The 3 Day was a challenging walk, but the route was scenic and it was a well-organized and supportive event, especially on the local level. This year’s walk started at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and moved south along the ocean and beaches, then back towards the city into Historic Old Town, through Hillcrest and the Gaslamp District, ending with an emotional closing ceremony in Balboa Park.

The terrain ranged from sidewalks to boardwalks and included some tough hills to climb. Bike police from the San Jose Police Department rode alongside walkers the entire route. Support vehicles were available to give rides to anyone who couldn’t continue. The event provided all meals and overnight “camps” with tents and hot showers.

San Diego walkers raised $10.3 million. More than 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed this year with breast cancer, and more than 40,000 will lose their life to the disease. There are more than 2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Garcia says she’s definitely going to do it again next year. “We already have seven people signed up,” she said.

“I’d highly recommend doing this,” Jenkin added. “If not for someone with breast cancer, do it for the experience. It is truly amazing.”

The 2006 Breast Cancer 3 Day will be held Nov. 10-12. For more information, call (800) 996-3DAY or to register online, visit www.breastcancer3day.org.