Above: Theresa Carter of Elyria and Erin Byrne of Wellington head west on Hilliard Boulevard Saturday afternoon as part of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. The two were making their way to the 3-Day campsite at the Westlake Recreation Center. (West Life photos by Larry Bennet)

Westlake executive’s team raises $24K to fight breast cancer
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published August 5, 2009

You may have seen them this past weekend — hundreds of people, most dressed in pink T-shirts, walking through the Westshore.

They were participants in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk. Taking place in 15 cities nationwide, the Breast Cancer 3-Day is a series of three-day, 60-mile walks that raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research, education and community health programs.

Westlake resident Pat Kendig was one of the participants. Her team of nine, who called themselves “Pat’s Breast Friends,” raised $24,000.

The team, which consisted of her sister, daughter and friends, raised money from other friends, Kendig said.

“I sent out e-mails to send to other people,” Kendig said of her fund-raising methods.

Kendig, who was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in December 2004, participated in the 3-Day for the past three years.

When it was announced in 2007 that the 3-Day, which began in 2003, was being introduced in Cleveland, Kendig considered participating but concluded that walking 60 miles in just three days might be too taxing. The upfront requirement that each participant raise $2,300 also seemed daunting, she said.

But that same afternoon, Pat’s sister, Jean, called her up and asked if she was going to be in the walk. That decided it for her, she said.

Above: Tthe 3-Day campsite at the Westlake Recreation Center, where dozens of participating teams pitched tents.

Over the past three years, Kendig’s teams have raised nearly $50,000 for the fight against breast cancer.

Why is the 3-Day worth the effort?

“Unless you’ve had someone tell you that you have cancer, you don’t really quite understand the impact it has on you,” said Kendig, who was successfully treated with surgery and radiation.

Noting that one in eight women will get breast cancer, Kendig said she hopes organizations like Komen will soon eradicate the disease.

“I don’t want to have these walks anymore,” she said. “We have to stop this.”

Pat Kendig with her daughter, Cathy, son-in-law Tim Richard, and grandsons Patrick and Evan. (Photo courtesy of Jim Connole)

The toll of the disease is not far from Kendig’s consciousness. At the 3-Day camp at the Westlake Recreation Center, a remembrance tent featured photos of previous participants who had succumbed to the disease. And Kendig spoke of a friend’s daughter in her early 30s with two kids who recently died of breast cancer.

But the 3-Day, which is organized by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, also brought a sense of camaraderie, with Kendig telling of reunions of friends who first met at the event marking increasing years of survivorship.

Kendig was also touched that her home city posted a sign welcoming the Komen walkers, something no other city did. And those motorists who honked in support of the walkers brought encouragement as well, Kendig said.

“It gives you the lift that you need,” she said, especially at mile 17 or 18.

On Friday, Kendig and the other 3-Day participants walked 22 miles from downtown Cleveland through Lakewood, Rocky River and Westlake. On Saturday, it was another 21 miles traversing Westlake and Bay Village. Sunday, the walk went for 17 miles through Westlake, North Olmsted, Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township before reaching the closing ceremonies at the County Fairgrounds in Berea.

Although she reported being sore Monday after three days of walking, Kendig said this year’s walk was a bit easier than pervious ones through East Side communities.

“This year, it was really wonderful because in these communities there’s lots of shade,” said Kendig, who is CEO of U.S. Communications and Electric.

In addition to the past three 3-Days, Kendig participated in the Komen Race For the Cure in 2006 and will volunteer for this year’s event, which is scheduled for September.

For more information about the Breast Cancer 3-Day, go online to www.the3day.org.

On the Web:

• Susan G. Komen For the Cure Web site
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk