Photo by Cathleen AllisonCindylou Kibbe (left) and Susan Staron-Draper walk home from Western Nevada Community College on Monday morning. The two are training to walk the 60-mile Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day to raise money for cancer treatment and for finding a cure.
Two Carson City women are doing their part to fight breast cancer, one mile at a time.
After watching her mother struggle and overcome breast cancer twice, then undergoing a lumpectomy herself, Cindylou Kibbe decided to help others in her situation.
She began training to walk the 60-mile Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day from San Jose to San Francisco on July 12. The proceeds will fund access to care and finding a cure.
"If it wasn't for my insurance, I wouldn't have been able to go in and get checked -- I would never have known," she said. "Not all of us are so fortunate. This is to help people who don't have insurance."
Kibbe, 41, told her friend Susan Staron-Draper of her plans and the 48-year-old Staron-Draper decided to get involved.
"There's strength in numbers," Staron-Draper said.
Staron-Draper rides her bike 2.6 miles every Monday and Wednesday mornings and the two walk together the 1.3 miles to Western Nevada Community College, then walk back home when their classes are over.
They try to average three miles five or six days a week and are hoping to increase the average to five miles.
"We've really gotten to see a lot of Carson City," Staron-Draper said.
They plan to stage a trial walk in June from the college campus to Gardnerville along Highway 395 just to see if they can make it.
But it's not the physical challenge that has them most worried. The two must raise $1,900 each to enter.
"We're more nervous about making our quota," Staron-Draper said. "If we don't make the quota by June 14, we don't walk -- and we're ready."
In a letter to potential donors, Kibbe explained that more than 182,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. About 40,000 of them will die.
"That's why I'm walking so far: to do something bold about breast cancer," the letter says. "Please keep in mind how far I'm walking and how hard I'll have to train. I won't let myself or you down."
Donations must be received by June 14.
You can help:
To make a donation or to become a corporate sponsor, call Cindylou Kibbe at 841-4440 or Susan Staron-Draper at 721-9461 or visit www.bethepeople.com.
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