Linda VanDerGraaf had heard that walking in the Breast Cancer 3-day is a life-changing experience. Now she, and two of her sisters, know it is true.
VanDerGraaf, a 1985 Brandon High School graduate, walked 20 miles per day from Sept. 28-30 to raise funds for breast cancer research and support. Her sisters, Kim Hahn and Suzy Kearns, also BHS graduates, joined her. Between the three of them, they raised more than $7,000. They had extra motivation? VanDerGraaf is a breast cancer survivor.
‘I was afraid I couldn’t walk it, but I trained, trained, trained, and I felt great,? said VanDerGraaf, an Orion Township resident. ‘I’m 40? it’s a new life, a new beginning. It was a challenge and a wonderful experience.?
The sisters were on a team of 30, all of whom knew VanDerGraaf and another friend who has battled breast cancer.
‘I hadn’t thought about walking (in the 3-day) until my sister got cancer,? said Kearns. ‘I never thought I could walk that far. Walking for three days seemed like a long walk, but it really wasn’t with all the support and being around all those great people.?
VanDerGraaf was having chest pains in the spring of 2006 that she initially thought was anxiety, but they were strong enough to prompt her to go for a check-up. Using ultrasound, doctors found three lumps in the same area in her left breast, the largest 3 millimeters. The diagnosis was stage 3 breast cancer, because so many lymph nodes were involved.
VanDerGraaf had a partial mastectomy, followed by a second surgery and then underwent chemotherapy, her last treatment the day after Christmas. Radiation was begun in mid-January and ended March 3.
The mother of a 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, VanDerGraaf said the treatment wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be and she was able to continue work as a home daycare provider. She also benefitted from the support of family and friends.
After treatment ended, VanDerGraaf had a clear mammogram and began training for the walk. She started with walking a mile, what she called a huge thing for her.
‘When you go through chemo, there are shots they give you to boost your immune and you have joint pain and when I got up in the morning it hurt so bad,? she said. ‘I remember getting up to three miles and thought, ‘wow!? Then I got up to seven and that was nothing. Once you feel like you can start moving, you appreciate life so much.?
Each walker has to raise $2,200 to participate in the walk, and VanDerGraaf recalled thinking that was a lot of money, but she raised it quickly.
Testing revealed that VanDerGraaf did not get cancer from genetic causes. Doctors believe it may have been an environmental cause and she has changed things about her family’s lifestyle, including going to more organic foods.
‘I look back and think I don’t want to go through it again, but if I have to, I made it through once,? she said. ‘Just think, what if I would have gotten cancer five years ago? And what will it be like 10 years from now with all the money people have raised??
Wojo’s Greenhouse, 2570 Oakwood Road, Ortonville, also had their own contingent of walkers at the Michigan Breast Cancer 3-Day. Susan Bork, Luana Haney, Jenny Haney, Lisa Kemeny, Noonie Kowalski, Sara Martin, Elise McMeans, Amy Price, and Kim Rich? Wojo’s Walkers? raised more than $20,000 for breast cancer research.