Celebrating 10 Years of Marching toward a Breast Cancer Cure
Little Company News
04/21/2009
Beverly Breast Cancer Walk embarks on special 10th anniversary this Mother's Day To register for the 10th Annual Beverly Breast Cancer Walk please visit www.beverlybreastcancerwalk.org
Evergreen Park, IL -March 13, 2009- At 8 a.m. on Mother's day, May 10, 2009, an anticipated 10,000 people will fill the streets of historic Beverly Hills and Morgan Park for the Beverly Breast Cancer Walk in celebration of its 10th anniversary.
What began as a small walk among friends is now the largest of its kind on Chicago's Southwest Side. The walk's evolution honors the lively spirit of its participants. It also shows our resolve to continue battling a disease that has touched so many, including Michele Clair, a breast cancer survivor, who one year ago, went for a mammogram at Little Company of Mary Hospital where a breast cancer diagnoses was confirmed.
'You know the statistics,' says Michele, 'There are seven to eight people in the room waiting for a mammogram, and one of you is going to be diagnosed, but you still think it won't be you.' Michele knew of the statistics because of her activism in breast cancer awareness including volunteering at the Walk in prior years. Michele credits Dr. Bennett Lum, diagnostic radiologist who read her latest digital mammogram that caught her cancer early. Michele says, 'With the new digital equipment, Dr. Lum and the mammogram technicians have made the biggest difference.' Michele refers to the new digital mammography system that was purchased by funds donated from the Beverly Breast Cancer Walk.
A Chicago resident, Michele describes her experience as happening so quickly she admits that she hardly had time to let everything sink in. Michele consulted Dr. Olga Ivanov, fellowship-trained breast surgeon at the Comprehensive Breast Health Center at Little Company of Mary. 'From the first day, Dr. Ivanov was positive and I knew as long as she was taking care of me, I'd be fine.'
Michele even scheduled her treatments around her composition classes that she taught at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Heights. 'I felt that the cancer certainly deserved my attention, but I wasn't going to give myself over to it.' Following her surgery and radiation, Michele Clair was declared cancer-free in August 2008. This year she will celebrate as she did those years prior at the walk, but in a new special role - a survivor.
'The Beverly Breast Cancer Walk symbolizes the tremendous amount of prayer and support you receive, not just from family, but from all kinds of people who just care enough to remember you in their prayers and who come out to support you on this day,' says Michele. 'The Little Company of Mary family, the Beverly and Evergreen Park area, and even all over the Chicagoland, comes together with this strong network of connectedness through faith and community.'
Michele lives in Chicago with her husband, Dr. Michael Thomas. They have four children including Brenna, Patrick, Moira, and Devin. Michele invites the community to join her in celebrating this special anniversary.
The 10th Annual Beverly March Against Breast Cancer will be held this Mother's Day, May 10, 2009. This very special event is the largest walk on Chicago's Southwest side with proceeds to benefit Little Company of Mary Hospital. The three-mile route starts in Ridge Park (96th and Longwood Drive) and includes historic Longwood Drive. To help alleviate parking, a new trolley service will transport walkers from the east end of Little Company of Mary's parking lot at 95th and California between 7 to 7:40 a.m. and drop off at 95th and Longwood Drive. Return transportation continues until 10:15 a.m. Also, participants who are unable to walk are invited to ride another trolley in the route.
In its first nine years, the annual event has raised nearly $1 million for breast cancer treatment. Register early to receive a free T-shirt with your $30 entry fee. The entry fee for children ages 18 and under is $15. Same-day registration is $5 more and shirt sizes are not guaranteed.
