May 'blizzard' challenges walkers for cancer research

Cindy Holland (left) and Sharron Zavattaro at the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Boston

Instead of May blossoms, a spring "blizzard" challenged almost 4,000 walkers in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Boston, May 17-19. Among the walkers was Cindy Holland, assistant director of the MBNA Career Services Center.

A friend of Holland's in Boston, Sharron Zavattaro, invited her to join her on the walk, and Holland, who is a regular recreational walker, began training for the 20-mile-a-day marathon last February.

"It was for a worthwhile cause--all of us have known someone touched by breast cancer--and my friends and coworkers at UD were so supportive in helping me reach my goal of raising $1,900 to participate," she said.

The first day was beautiful, and all went as planned, as the hikers left from Fitchburg, Mass., she said. Tents were put up to house the walkers, but then they awoke during the night to discover torrential rain.

Everything got wet--sleeping bags, clothes, shoes, and the weather only got worse with record lows, snow and sleet, Holland recalled.

Undeterred, the participants marched with some spectators along the way braving the weather to cheer them on. However, as the weather worsened, the decision was made to halt the walk by midday and house the marchers in a local school.

Hot food was brought in, and first-aid stations were set up to handle hypothermia, dehydration and occasional cases of frostbite. Volunteers from the community were kind and helpful, Holland said, bringing in supplies and items like old sweatshirts, rags and towels to help the walkers dry out. Housing all the walkers was a challenge, and Holland spent the night sleeping on the floor, but everyone was in good spirits and rose to the challenge, Holland said.

The next day reverted to traditional May weather, and the enthusiastic participants resumed the walk, "We all assembled at a meeting place in Boston where we were given blue long-sleeved T-shirts and survivors of breast cancer were given pink shirts. Together we all marched the last mile to Boston Commons where we received a wonderful, tumultuous reception. It was a very moving ceremony and emotional time," Holland recalled.

In all, $6 million was raised for breast cancer research, education and assistance, but Holland said what impressed her most was the human kindness and spirit she encountered on the walk. "There is good in the world," she said, adding, "and now I can go back to just walking a few miles a day, which looks pretty good to me."

SUE MONCURE