good works
For additional information please log on to: ★www.justcausewalk.org ★www.healinggarden.net ★www.massgeneral.org/cancer
In preparation for the three-day journey, I joined a local gym to train for the walk, and while explaining to the owner why I joined, he told me that his wife was co-founder of the Just 'Cause Breast Cancer Walk – a privately formed walk with 100 percent of raised
funds going to the cause. I had found my walk of choice. When I met the founders, I immediately knew this was the walk for me. Just 'Cause was established in 2002 by four women who had a vision of creating a 3-day, 60-mile walk where all of the funds raised would go either to the Harvard, Massachusetts-based Virginia Thurston Healing Garden or the Massachusetts General Hospital's Gillette Center for Women's Cancers. Both of these organizations provide valuable services to women with breast cancer and their families.
Last spring, I joined the Just 'Cause walk with another college classmate. As we meandered through Bolton, Harvard, Boxboro, Acton, and Concord, it was a beautiful tribute to our friend, and we were honored to be part of the record-breaking team that would surpass the $1 million donation mark. I vividly recall our 39th mile. We crossed over Concord's Old
North Bridge on our way to a reception at The Colonial Inn when a breast cancer survivor from out of town hugged us and thanked us for walking to raise research funds, saying that research is the key to finding a cure.
The 10th annual Just 'Cause walk will be held May 18-20, 2012 and, in addition to the 60-mile walk, will be offering a 10- or 20-mile option, along with a 3.5-mile walk on Saturday. I feel confident that someday a cure will be found and my dear friend Meryl will be smiling down on us all. ★
44 ★ north bridge magazine ★ SPRING/SUMMER 2012
BEN DIM ARIO