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Aug 17, 2009 10:56 pm US/Central
Mothers Band Together For Breast Cancer 3-Day
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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Women have a 1-in-8 chance of getting the disease in their lives, but instead of looking the other way, a team of mothers made a plan to do something about it.
CBS
Some Minneapolis mothers are taking the fight against breast cancer into their own hands, with the help of their own feet. They are set to walk this weekend on behalf of all the mothers that can't anymore.
The Bavolak family learned too early how unfair life can be. They lost their mother, Terri Bavolak, last year to breast cancer following a five-year battle. She was 47.
"One of the things that bothered her a lot when she was sick and dealing with it was that she couldn't do all of the things that she wanted to do for them," said George Bavolak, who is now raising his children alone.
Sadly, the Bavolaks' story isn't the only one from southwest Minneapolis. Terri Bavolak was one of three mothers with kids at Lake Harriet School who died of breast cancer last school year.
"We just thought 'that can't be.' In a school the size of Lake Harriet that means every child in the school knows another kid who lost their mom," said Melanie McCall, a fellow mother.
Women have a 1-in-8 chance of getting the disease in their lives, but instead of looking the other way, a team of mothers made a plan to do something about it.
They call their team the
Lake Harriet Happy Hoofers for Healthy Hooters, or "4H." For months the team of 15 has been training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60-mile walk.
Three survivors are on the team. Peggy Kjorstad-Kaatz is one of them.
"I kind of feel like I was blessed with cancer. That's kind of weird to say, but I do because I get to share my story with people and I get to tell them there's hope," she said.
Every walker has to raise $2,300 for research to be able to participate. The Lake Harriet team has passed $40,000.
"We're out walking so that other girls, other moms, other sisters, other friends won't have to go on a breast cancer walk 10 or 15 years from now." McCall said.
The Bavolaks appreciate the support, as their neighborhood fights to make life a little fairer for other families.
"This is curable, this is doable." McCall added.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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