Greene takes 'steps' to raise funds for cancer research

By Dana Ehlschide
News Bureau Director

In June Kim Greene, KPA General Counsel, put away her legal briefs and dress shoes and exchanged them for a water bottle and tennis shoes as she began a 60 mile fundraising walk for breast cancer.

Greene was one of over 6,000 people participating in the three-day event sponsored by Avon Products, Inc. The purpose of event is to raise funds for breast cancer research, early detection for victims and support for survivors.

"I've always been concerned that breast cancer has not been getting the attention it needs as far as research is concerned," Greene said of her involvement in the event. "I have participated in local walks and raised a few hundred dollars, but saw this as a real chance to make a big, significant difference."

The fundraising minimum was $1,900.

There are 13 three-day events held throughout the country. Greene chose to participate in the Chicago event on June 14,15 and 16. Walkers began their trek in Kenosha, Wis. and traveled the 60 miles along the lakefront to downtown Chicago. The participants were required to walk 20 miles a day, but could walk at their own pace from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Along the way walkers could take pit stops where volunteers offered them water and Gatorade, Greene said.

If a hunger pain hit, the walkers were given a chance to stop at a snack booth every four miles. "The favorite snack seemed to be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on graham crackers," Greene said.

This was the biggest event in the walk's history Greene said as the 6,236 walkers raised $11 million after expenses.

Greene said the organizers of the event were very safety conscious. Some of the over 600 volunteers were local members of a motorcycle club who acted as crossing guards when the trail crossed traffic.

During the evenings Greene along with the other walkers put up her feet and slept in a two-person tent at a campsite along the way. The 3,400 tents scattered along the field looked like "blue bumps," Greene said. "It made it difficult to find your way back to your tent at night after going to the porta-potty. They all looked the same."

Training for the walk was no small task for Greene and the other walkers. Those participants in the Chicago area could take part in training groups provided by the walk's organizers. Those living outside of the Chicago area were given the names of other walkers in their area.

"I met six other women from Louisville I would have never gotten to meet otherwise," Greene said of her training group.

The seven women walked together on weekends beginning in January. They tried to walk between 12-18 miles each trip. Greene would also walk three miles each day during the week.

As part of their training, the women teamed up and walked together in the pouring rain in May for the 26-mile Kentucky Derby Marathon.

"It gives you tremendous energy to be with all the people walking," Greene said of the event. "When all you have to do for three days is walk because someone else is fixing your food and there are no chores to do, the 20-mile a day walk is not too bad."

Greene said she was also inspired to keep walking by some of the other participants. There were survivors who walked, one lady in a wheelchair participated and an 83-year-old couple took part, she said.

"The incredible life stories you heard from these people made my problems seem insignificant."