Making Strides 2007: Hope starts with us
From left, Rosemary Wilke, Sally Berube, Bobbi Meddleton, Kim MacCrabie and Nancy Hargrave, all members of the Vestal TA who teach at Glenwood Elementary, hold the postcard petitions they filled out urging Congress to provide more funding for mammograms.
The 2007 Breast Cancer walk held special meaning for York TA members who raised $1,730 and walked in memory of Janet Greene, who lost her battle against the disease July 24. Greene fought breast cancer for 14 years and counseled many women who got the disease. 'We were honored to pay tribute to Janet's kindness and generosity,' said Beth Dougherty, co-captain, with Lisa Lippold, of the York team.
A few of the several thousand walkers at Binghamton's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.
From left, Gail Brooks, Elyse Woods and Diane Webb are among the walkers representing the Buffalo Education Support Team.
Co-workers and friends surround Kathy Sapienza, third from right, a survivor and teacher aide in the Williamsville schools.
NYSUT Board members Kier Merrill of the Greene TA and Denise Heckel of the Vestal TA greet each other at the Binghamton walk.
Diane Calleri of the Hamburg TA registers with Karen Alfasso at the NYSUT booth in Buffalo.
From left, Patricia Mineo, Betsy Bierfeldt, Cindy Chynoweth and Linda Herraez of the Holland TA get ready for the walk in Buffalo.
Beth Spencer, a North Syracuse fifth-grade teacher and breast cancer survivor, with her mother-in-law, Diana Spencer, and daughter Taylor before the start of the walk in Syracuse.
One of more than 100 walkers from the Rochester TA. Mary Barnum, a retiree and survivor of breast cancer, coordinated the effort of the Rochester local.
The above photos from walks in Binghamton, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse were taken by Thomas Gillett, Ron Goodrich, Betsy Sandberg, Dennis Stierer and Traci Szalkowski. Walks were also held in Jamestown, Utica and Washington County on Oct. 14 and will be in Albany, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Central Park, Hudson Valley, Long Island, Queens, Staten Island and Westchester on Oct. 21. Check out www.nysut.org and future issues of New York Teacher for continuing coverage.
Hope starts here
When Jean Lux was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, she knew exactly what she was going to tell her teaching colleagues in the Owego-Apalachin schools.
"I told them they were going to get me through this," Lux recalled in Binghamton, the site of one in a series of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks this month. "They are all the most supportive, positive people I know." Thus far the group is supporting Lux in style, too, as "Jean's Queens." The group created and is selling T-shirts in her honor; they came to the Sept. 30 walk in Binghamton adorned in tiaras and boas to make the 31-year veteran teacher smile.
"This is so great," Lux said, between hugs. "This is just what I need."
Thousands of women just like Lux will get what they need this month in walks across the state under the statewide slogan of "Hope starts with me." On these pages are just a few of the photos from the earliest rounds of walks.
This year, NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira has pledged that more than 10,000 NYSUT members will raise more than $1 million for the American Cancer Society event. "Fighting cancer is a team effort," said Neira who will walk in the Albany event on Oct. 21.
We'll see you there!
Register online
You may register online at: main.acsevents.org/nysut .
If you're starting a local team or signing up as an individual walker, be sure to select "NYSUT" as your company affiliation
Save the date!
Making Strides events are taking place around the state Sept. 30, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21. Mark your calendar for the event nearest you!
Sept. 30, 2007
- Binghamton - Recreation Park, Riverside
- Buffalo - Niagara Square
- Rochester - Frontier Field
- Syracuse - Community Plaza
Oct. 14, 2007
- Jamestown - Jamestown Community College
- Utica - SUNY Inst. of Technology
- Washington County - Salem Central Schools, Salem, NY
Oct. 21, 2007
- Albany - Washington Park
- Bronx - Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets, Central Valley
- Brooklyn
- Central Park
- Hudson Valley
- Long Island - Jones Beach State Park, Field 5, Long Island
- Queens - Queens Borough Hall
- Staten Island
- Tarrytown - Purchase-Manhattanville College, Purchase
- Westchester
"I Pledge"
By Grace Berger, 14-year-old student at Hunter-Tannersville schools
I pledge to support the fight against cancer
to remember the ones who have passed
and consider the ones still fighting.
I pledge to run for the cure
miles and miles until my strength
is at the same place as theirs.
I promise to donate and to
bring smiles to all their faces.
I'll take care of the ones who know
and hold the hands of the ones
waiting for an answer.
I pledge to tell them they look beautiful
when really they're at their worst.
And I promise to be with them
every step of the way.
Making Strides 2007
- NYSUT goes over watershed $1 million mark to fight cancer
- Making Strides: NYSUT goes over $1 million mark
- Keeping in stride for cancer research
- Members hit the pavement for breast cancer
- Making Strides 2007: Hope starts with us
- Members walk, sign postcards to increase awareness and research in cancer fight
- Raising awareness, one page and pig at a time
- Save the dates for Making Strides walks this fall
- Activists kick off Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign