For years, Andrea Robbins and Lauri Pagel talked about doing the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk.
This August, they will.
“My older sister, who lives in Ohio, said, ‘We’re doing this. Get online and register,'” said Robbins.
Their mother was 54 when she died of breast cancer in 1999. Their aunt was 40 when she also died of it.
Pagel, who has known Robbins for 16 years, said, “I remember when Andrea was going through it with her mom. People make New Year’s resolutions for themselves. We are making one for other people while we still can. We’re not just walking for people we know but for others.”
They registered for the walk the beginning of this year.
Robbins and Pagel, both of Waupaca, will meet Robbins’ sister Stephanie Howard in Chicago for the Aug. 10 to 12 walk.
Over the course of three days, they will walk a total of 60 miles.
The 2012 Susan G. Komen 3-Day Series includes events in 14 U.S. cities.
Since beginning in 2003, the walk has raised more than $600 million. Net proceeds help pay for global breast cancer research and community programs that support education, screening and treatment.
Each participant must raise $2,300.
Both Pagel and Robbins work the swing shift at Presto in Weyauwega and have already received donations from co-workers.
3D Auto, of Waupaca, is a sponsor for Robbins, and one of Pagel’s sponsors is Maple Lane Repair, of Weyauwega.
Others who want to give a donation may call Robbins at 715-281-1647.
Both women have also begun training for the walk.
Each day, they will have eight hours to complete the mileage for that day.
As participants, they will have meals, snacks, drinks, shower facilities, tents and 24-hour medical support provided for them.
Robbins and Pagel have selected their theme, and it is “60 miles (f)or bust.”
Robbins said they want to be part of something that changes the statistics about breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.
In 2010, about 1.6 million new cases of invasive breast cancer occurred among women around the world.
Every 19 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every 74 seconds, somewhere in the world, someone dies from it.
In 2010, about 425,000 women around the world died of breast cancer.
Pagel says now is the time to be a part of the walk.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. Anyone can do it,” she said. “You just have to take the initiative and buy good shoes.”
Robbins said, “It makes us feel good, because we are helping in some way.”