A pink-spotted tide of over 1000 people rippled over the hill on Main Street in Damariscotta on Oct. 17 in a collective effort to raise money for breast cancer research. Under a crisp, blue sky, the buoyant crowd made their way along a three-mile trek through town.
Many small groups add up to a large mass. On Sunday afternoon, people traversed the town from the bank up Main Street, then Church Street, over a sweeping hill with trees blazing with color, across the Damariscotta-Newcastle bridge and back again. Giant decorated pumpkins glared out at the colorful passers-by and walkers were greeted with cookies, refreshments and encouragement.
The event raised more than $90,000 to the cause for the American Cancer Society.
Each year at this time, people take part in an event that has grown for a number of reasons. Some participants walk for family members and friends who have passed away. Others walk for their sisters, their mothers, their co-workers and friends who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
By their sheer presence, those survivors who have lived long past their diagnoses offer hope and encouragement for others and find solidarity in their numbers.
Standing behind a table in a grassy median at the First National Bank, Pat Fox adjusted the round, metal pendant dangling from a pink ribbon that indicated she is one of many breast cancer survivors.
“It hasn’t changed my life that much,” she said. “Mine was early detection. That’s the key word.”
Fox, who has been organizing the Damariscotta event with fellow volunteer Carol Wise since 1998, will stitch together a “comment block” quilt this winter. Throughout the day she, along with other organizers, offered the comment blocks to participants. She said people could sign their names or place artwork on the blocks, to unify the ideas and spirit of “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.” The quilt will go on display next year.
Fox and her sister were both diagnosed and lost their mother to the disease.
Fox said she is the last member of the original committee from 1998, though she is working with two other volunteer organizers, Brandi Stewart and Brent Peters, along with American Cancer Society (A.C.S.) liaison, Chrystal DeRocher. Fox said they are looking for others who would be interested in joining their committee.
While the committee membership is down to three from last year’s 15, many hands played a part in the event that had commuters stopped in their tracks and raised awareness to the need in support of cancer research.
“There are 220 Making Strides walks taking place this month across the U.S.,” A.C.S. speaker Mike Hart said to an attentive audience in the parking lot of the bank, moments before the walk. “Last year, nearly 700,000 walkers across the country collected $60 million, including over 3000 Maine walkers at four events (Brunswick, Kittery, Portland and Damariscotta) that raised close to $500,000.
“Did you know that the American Cancer Society invests more in breast cancer research than in any other solid tumor site? To date, that’s over $419 million. The society funds promising researchers early in their careers and 44 of these individuals have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. Because of all you here today and the funds you have raised, the American Cancer Society has given over $9 million in grants to Maine research institutions.”
In addition to the families and friends who joyously and confidently strode in the cool sunny afternoon toward hope, a number of local businesses and organizations offered their collective support. A group of six from the Department of Marine Resources, “Team DMR”, has attended the annual walk for the past 11 years.
“My grandmother died, so it’s personal for me,” Marilyn Lash said.
She joined co-workers who said they also feel strongly about supporting the cause and who added that people at work have been generous with their donations. Lash said other co-workers also attend different events to support similar causes. She said another DMR employee took part in the “Dempsey Challenge” on Oct. 2 in the Lewiston/Auburn area and likely did not have the energy to do the walk in Damariscotta, as well.
Others in Team DMR include Eileen Brewer, Jan Barter, Laurie L. Bean, Maggie Hunter, and Mary Reid. Laurie Bean said it has been three years since her diagnosis.
Teams also came from local businesses, such as The First, Renys department store, Damariscotta Hardware and others. One team called, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Ta-Tas” had roughly 40 members show up for the walk.
Hart recognized “The Gardening Goddesses”, a group of six women who raised the most money this year: $3800. The Gardening Goddesses cut the ribbon at the exit from the bank parking lot and led the crowd up the Main Street slope.
“We’re absolutely thrilled with the turnout,” said Melissa Cushman, a staff partner with ACS. “Damariscotta always outdoes itself with community. They get bigger and better every year.”