Parade of Pink Offers Hope

FARMINGTON HILLS
Parade of pink offers hope
Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers come from near and far to honor those who’ve battled the disease
By ASHLEY WOODS Special to The Oakland Press

Last summer, Jane Solomar found a lump in her breast. “It was a small mass, and eventually, we learned it was benign. But that’s why I’m here.” Solomar of Warren stood in a circle with her team, the “Three-Day Dawgs,” at Pioneer Park in Farmington Hills. Her teammates came from Waterford Township, Fraser and even Houston, Texas to join the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day.
The Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day is one of 11 such 60-mile walking and camping weekend events nationwide. Proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund.
From Friday to Sunday, the park was just one the first of many pit stops along the course, which runs from Farmington Hills through Farmington, Plymouth, Livonia, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. To join the race, the 2,300 participants were required to pay a $90 registration fee and raise $2,200 in pledges and donations. In addition, 400 crew members commit to working round-the-clock for four days straight to support the walkers. Last year, the Michigan charity weekend raised $5.9 million to support breast cancer research and outreach. It’s also a way for cancer survivors, supporters of research, and friends of those fighting the disease to connect.
“There’s a lot of fun, and a lot of camaraderie,” said Shelley Davidson of Oxford, a registered nurse manning the First Aid/Self Care table at Pit Stop 1.
Many participants register to walk in teams. Noonie Kowalski of Oxford and five of her female co-workers formed the Wojo’s Greenhouse team in May. She said the team spent months raising money through charity events, such as card nights and a garage sale.
“We also did a fund-raiser at (bd’s Mongolian Barbeque) restaurant,” Kowalski said. “We sold tickets to the event, and they let us get behind the grill and cook the food!”
The team trained all summer on the Paint Creek Trailway in Rochester.
“It’s definitely rewarding,” said teammate Susan Bork of Oxford, “and not just because my clothes no longer fit!”
Emily Dowgiallo of Dearborn lost her godmother to breast cancer five years ago. Last year, she walked the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-day alone. This year, she has four friends, including Mary Abraham of Dearborn, her former kindergarten teacher, to help her along. All five women have relatives and close friends who were diagnosed with the disease.
“It’s not easy,” said Dowgiallo, of the three-day walk. “But it’s nothing compared to what they go through.”
Carolyn Ruge, a Toledo resident and breast cancer survivor, traveled to Michigan with her daughter and a friend to participate in the “closest walk that I could find.” Ruge, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2005, said she enjoyed the physical exercise.
“It’s not bad overall. I’m a little tired, but it’s OK. I just don’t have the stamina I used to have before I went through treatment.”
When they weren’t fund-raising, many participants spent time creating pinkthemed outfits for the weekend. Pink cowboy hats, tutus, feather boas, bandanas and Mardi Gras beads were just some of the accessories.
Teams often design their own Tshirts, many bearing the names of personal friends and family who were diagnosed with breast cancer. Noonie Kowalski said her walking team picked unusual lime -green color because the entire team works at Wojo’s Greenhouse of Oxford. “We’re giving the race a green thumbs-up for the cure,” she said, laughing.
Once they arrived at Pit Stop 1, the women were greeted with sandwiches, bananas, liquids and shade. Diane Lewey of Dearborn said she began work as a member of the crew at 5:15 Friday morning. “We set up all these tents in the dark,” she said.
Even before two of her aunts were diagnosed with breast cancer, Lewey said she was interested in volunteering.
“We all have breasts, and we all don’t want to die,” she said.