BRUNSWICK — In recognition of National Colon Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of two colon cancer survivors, Theresa Barry of Topsham has organized the third annual Colon Cancer Walk and invites everyone to participate.
The three-mile walk will start at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Water Street entrance to the Androscoggin River Bicycle and Pedestrian Path. Registration is a minimal donation fee of $10.
“Just come on by and if you can make a small donation, please do,” Barry said. Participants can walk the entire three miles ( the walk goes down to the 1.5 mile-mark and back), any portion they feel up to, or “just hang out and socialize. … It’s nice for everyone to come together.”
Barry lost all of her grandparents to cancer. When she started participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Brunswick 12 years ago, her father, now a survivor of colon cancer for 11 years, had been diagnosed.
Her best friend, Laura, is a two-year colon cancer survivor. Cancer has affected her family, and that of her husband, who has four uncles who died of cancer.
It seems every time she turns around, she meets someone else who has or survived cancer. For example, the loan adviser she got her mortgage from and a new employee at work are survivors.
Barry organized the first colon cancer walk in March 2010 to honor her father and best friend as a team fundraiser for Relay For Life. The past two walks, both in March, fell on cold days, so it was largely friends and family who came out. Barry hopes for warmer weather Sunday to bring people out, and together.
The best part about the event for her, “is just the gathering of some very special people in my life.”
She keeps planning them because she likes to bring people together and combine hearts, Barry said.
Everyone does Relay For Life for different reasons, but obviously it is because someone they love has been touched by cancer.
“I think our own passion is very meaningful,” she said. “I think it’s very individual.”
When people realize what Relay For Life is about, they often start sharing their own stories about how they’ve been impacted by cancer. Everyone is invited to come walk Sunday, Barry said. They can bring a small donation and consider finding some sponsors do donate to the cause as well. No advance registration is required.
As her Relay For Life page online states, “I care and love many people who have battled cancer… many relatives and many friends. You turn around and meet someone new every day and find out they have been touched with cancer in some way. The walk is powerful and meaningful.”
Get more information about and sign up for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Brunswick online at www.relayforlife.org/brunswickme.
Learn more about colon cancer at www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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