Medford resident Leslie Gayden estimates she has known seven or eight people who have been inflicted with breast cancer.
Among those are her mother and stepsister, both who recently died after being survivors for a number of years.
To honor their memories, Gayden decided to do something beyond the normal cancer awareness fundraiser.
Gayden and her friend, Karen Lowry, are registered for the Susan G. Komen three-day, 60-mile walk in Philadelphia from Sept. 12 through Sept. 14.
Unlike a typical 5K run or other fundraiser, the 60-mile walk requires participants to train for months beforehand. Gayden and Lowry have both been building up their endurance over the past few months.
“It’s been a huge commitment for me,” Gayden said. “It’s similar training for a marathon because you have to do everything the right way.”
Lowry said Gayden first brought up the idea of doing the 60-mile walk. Having known friends who have had breast cancer, Lowry didn’t hesitate when asked to join.
“I just thought it was a great cause,” she said. “It’s a little bit scary, going 60 miles, but I think I’ve stayed in pretty good shape.”
Because of the intense training, preparation for this fundraiser is twofold. The first aspect is the training itself. Lowry said the walkers not only need to build endurance, but they need to pack appropriately, stay hydrated and keep a reasonable speed.
“Every so often, they have a series of tweets,” Lowry said. “You can really find out important things to pack and things to be careful of.”
“You just have to make time like a job,” Gayden said. “You have to take it on and not be lazy about it.”
To help keep track of how their training is going, Lowry and Gayden are using a mobile app provided by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The app keeps a log of how far they have walked during training and how quickly they are walking. The speed is especially important, as walkers need to keep a certain pace to complete the full walk.
“You really have to be careful about your time,” Lowry said. “You have to do your 20 miles a day before dark.”
In addition to training, Lowry and Gayden have been trying to fundraise. Each walker is required to raise a minimum of $2,300. The fundraising has proven to be just as difficult as the training.
“So many people are approached by so many fundraisers, it’s just so hard,” Lowry said.
To help raise more money, Gayden has gone to local businesses in Medford. In exchange for donations, Gayden is offering to put the companies’ name on the back of their t-shirts.
Still, Gayden has found family and friends to be the most willing to give money.
“I believe reaching out to family and friends is the best way,” she said.
With just a few weeks remaining before the walk, Lowry and Gayden are both short of their $2,300 goal. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. To send donations to Team Gayden-Lowry, visit http://www.the3day.org/site/TR and type in either Gayden or Lowry’s name.
