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usual gauge of recovery
"Because I am a survivor,
I made this a project of
mine," said-Aaronson, who
registered for the walk in
December.
The weeks of walk- walking with her friend Nancy Pasman,
ing helped many to
said people along the route in residential
improve their physi-
neighborhoods turned on their sprin-
cal condition. "It got
klers to keep them cool. And she noted
easier the more I
the many medical doctors, podiatrists,
trained and even
nurses, chiropractors and massage thera-
stopped hurting so
pists who volunteered their services
much," Levin said.
throughout the event.
Raising Money
"This is my first
Jewish observance was made possible
This is the first year
experience of doing
as the Ann Arbor Jewish Federation
Michigan has been a site for
any fitness on a seri-
organized a Friday night Kabbalat
one of the Avon Breast
ous basis," Shepherd
Shabbat service. Goldsmith said
Cancer Crusade fund-rais-
said. "What I'm find- "Miriam [Seagle] davened one day and
ers, which includes 13
ing from this walking Sharona [Shapiro] and I welcomed
national events. Organizers
thing is how inex-
Shabbat morning with Shacharit servic-
anticipated 3,000 would
Suzanne Lowy Levin
pensive it is. You just
es."
walk here and got 3,500
raised $9,000.
need a good pair of
In Farmington Hills Sunday,
instead, and not just from
shoes and $8 socks."
Aaronson said more than 10,000 "well-
Michigan. Another 500 paid
Participating in the wishers lined the streets, congratulating
to join the support crew.
event is "another fo rm of community
us on our completion of the three-day
Before Michigan, about $20 million
activism," she adde d.
walk, and many had tears streaming
had been raised this season, October
"The walk gives me a way to fight
down their faces."
through May. The Avon Foundation
back, to try to save others from this loss
The most exciting aspect for all is that
disperses the money to leading national
experience.
cancer and medical centers, service
"I've cried
organizations and breast health pro-
many times dur-
grams.
ing my training
To prepare for the event, participants
walks, thinking
had a walker-coach work with them on
about Mom,
training and fund-raising. Many walkers
thinking about
obtained far more than the minimum
how important
$1,900 required to participate. For
this experience is
example, Suzanne Lowy Levin of
to me, thinking
Pleasant Ridge, a physician assistant at
about the services
the Karmanos Weisberg Cancer Center
and research that
in Farmington Hills, raised $9,000 —
my $5,000 in
some of it with the help of caring people fund-raising will
from Temple Beth El. Walking with sis-
help to deliver."
terhood friends, Levin was motivated by
Seagle is cele-
her work in the field of oncology, help-
brating her 10th
Wendy Shepherch left, walked in memory of her mother, Frances
ing women with breast cancer. Her aunt
anniversary as a
Shepherd,
who died of breast cancer 18 years ago.
also had the disease.
cancer survivor.
Cancer has touched many family
"By walking, I
members of the previously "exercise
hope I can get across the message to
Michigan's 3-Day Walk raised more
avoidant" Wendy Shepherd of
newly diagnosed women that they can
than $5.2 million for the fight against
Commerce Township. That's why she
be OK, too," she said.
breast cancer. At closing ceremonies, the
chose to walk "for my aunts, my uncle
."We have sacrificed time, energy and
Avon Foundation presented a $500,000
and my mom" with niece Nicole
money to make a statement," Shepherd
check to Karmanos Cancer Institute
Dallaire of Livonia. Breast cancer took
said. "Breast cancer offends us, and we
Chief Operating Officer Rosemary
the life of Shepherd's mother, Frances,
want it to go away. We are willing to
Gilchrist and Suzanne Lowy Levin. The
18 years ago.
take the steps necessary to create
money will be used for screening med-
For some, part of the event's appeal
change."
ically underserved women and to fund a
was living together as a community —
mobile mammography unit. ❑
but in tents? Shapiro's friend, Judy
Goldsmith of Huntington Woods,
The .Amazing' Results
joked, "I tried to talk her into the
Heat rashes and blisters aside, Sue
Holiday Inn but she wouldn't hear of
Aaronson and Judy Goldsmith reported
For information on the Avon
it.
after the walk Sunday that it had been
Breast Cancer 3-Day Walks, call
Shepherd said in mock horror,
an amazing experience.
(800) 825-1000 or visit the Web
"Showering in trucks? Me, a nice Jewish
"People were in pain from walking 20
site
girl!"
miles each day but no one complained,"
www.BeThePeople.com
Aaronson said she appreciated the
Goldsmith said. "We supported and
For more on breast cancer, see
detailed instructions provided prior to
cared about each other in magnificent
vvww.karmanos.org (Karmanos)
the weekend, including advice on how
ways ... strangers became friends. Every
and
much to walk. "We were supposed to
person walking had a story to tell and
www.cancer.org (American
have done 50-60 miles by last week and
every story touched my heart deeply."
Cancer Society).
rest this week," she said.
Aaronson, who put in 11-hour days
's.4 401 :,