York Town News
Eighth Annual Walk for Hope set for Aug. 2
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK BEACH - Once again this year, breast cancer survivors and their family members and friends are invited to gather at Short Sands Beach to walk together to help raise funds and awareness of breast cancer causes across the state.
On Thursday, Aug. 2, at 5:45 pm, the York Hospital Breast Cancer Survivor Group will hold the opening ceremony for its Eighth Annual Walk for Hope, and all are invited to join the group prior to the 6 p.m. departure for this two-mile stroll to Long Sands Beach or an optional five-mile loop.
Registration will be held under the tent at the York Beach Ball Field beginning at 5 p.m. A $15 entry fee entitles participants to a T-shirt and to enter their names for door prizes.
Run entirely by volunteers, all of the money raised during this walk will support breast cancer causes in Maine, with over $125,000 raised in the past seven years, explained co-facilitators Joann Noel and Jean Smith in their announcement of the upcoming event.
This year, all the funds raised will be given to four causes, including a new organization, Fill the Gap, a telephone helpline providing emotional and informational support from the first awareness of a breast cancer diagnosis to entry into treatment. Through this organization, volunteer peer counselors help "fill the gap" that patients and their families experience when facing a cancer diagnosis by providing compassion, experience and information. Designed by local breast cancer survivors, this program is partially funded by area hospitals, including York Hospital. More information is available at http://www.fillthegap.info/.
Other beneficiaries of this year's walk include the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition, Maine Cancer Foundation and York Hospital Wellness Center.
This year's closing ceremony and door prize drawings will immediately follow the walk, starting at 7 p.m., and special prizes will be given to walkers with pledges of $250 or more.
The York Hospital Breast Cancer Survivor Group meets the third Monday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Ellis Conference Room at York Hospital and welcomes new members. In 2005, the Maine Cancer Foundation awarded the York Hospital Breast Cancer Support Group with the Citizen Advocate Award for providing leadership and increasing awareness of the importance of breast health.
Pledge sheets for the Walk for Hope may be picked up at various locations including York Hospital Oncology and the York Hospital Wellness Center. Donations will be accepted at the walk, with checks payable to the York Hospital Breast Cancer Walk, or checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 851, Ogunquit, ME 03907.
