The girls of the 3-Day

By Deanna Brown

October 11, 2008 08:19 pm

— What would make a woman walk 60 miles over a three-day period, sleep in a very small tent, and shower in a truck?
Six Navarro County women have pledged to do just that in the Breast Cancer 3-Day, which will be Nov. 7-9. Their course will begin at Southfork Ranch in Parker, and end at Southern Methodist University campus.
This will be Jamie Weaver’s third year to participate, Edie Pritchett’s second year, and the others will be walking in the event for the first time. Each woman must raise a minimum of $2,200, with 85 percent of the net proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. It is the largest source of non-profit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. The other 15 percent will go to the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, which provides support for breast cancer research, treatment, prevention and education.
The team “Supportin’ the Girls” is comprised of Pritchett, her sister Jamie Kitchens, Donna Hillis, and Manuela “Manny” Taylor. Weaver is walking solo this year, as her other team members backed out. “Nana’s Girls” is a team headed by Helen Jordan, and inspired by her pastor’s mother-in-law, Nana, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and only recently finished treatment. The other three team members have since moved away, but are still participating.
“I feel God has given me the gift of health and the passion for physical fitness,” Jordan said. “I am walking for my preacher’s mother-in-law, Nana, and also because I have lost both my mother-in-law and father-in-law recently due to some form of cancer.”
Jordan knows the walk will be grueling, but believes it is nothing compare to what those going through chemotherapy and radiation are enduring. She also has two daughters, and hopes her participation in the 3-Day will make a difference in a cure, so her daughters never have the disease. Her training regime consists of walking 65 to 70 miles per week.
Nana’s Girls had a team goal of raising $8,800, and thanks to their generous sponsors, they have raised $9,685. Sponsors include Go Co Trucking, Triton Overseas, Muirhead Trucking, G-First-Logistics, NY, Landstar, Jordan Paint and Body, Navarro Pecan Company and many friends.
“Supportin’ the Girls” has yet to raise all their money, but is planning to have two booths at the Kerens Cotton Harvest Festival Oct. 18 in order to raise more money. Kitchens is a three-year breast cancer survivor, Hillis is a four-year cancer survivor, and they and Pritchett are all heavily involved in the American Cancer Society Navarro County Relay for Life. Taylor is a friend who is walking in support of them, and to hopefully benefit her children one day.
“I walk because of my sister, who wanted to walk last year but still had too many lingering side effects of chemo,” Pritchett said. “I am excited this year she is going to be a part of this amazing experience. Also, I am a nurse and have worked in oncology for almost nine years. I walk for all my patients, as well as the many people I know in the community who have battled breast cancer — like Donna. I figure if someone diagnosed with breast cancer can go through chemo and/or radiation for six months or longer, the least I can do to raise money for awareness and research is walk 60 miles.”
Weaver lost her grandmother to breast cancer, a 30-year-old cousin, and she and her mother both have had benign masses removed. Though her team-mates have backed out, and she’s having trouble raising her money, Weaver is undeterred.
“I did it by myself the first year, and I can do it again,” she said. “At least this year I’ll know people.”
The first year Weaver had only a light sleeping bag, and ended up cuddling with a woman she’d just met in her small tent and heavier sleeping bag. She endured 11 blisters and severe back spasms on the last day of the walk her first year.
“I have a friend who is 34 years old, has two children, and has breast cancer,” Weaver said. “She is not doing well at all. Her mother also had it.”
Walking 60 miles in three days is not for the faint of heart. Pritchett trained intensely before last year’s walk, and still only made it thanks to four Ace bandages and braces on both knees. Walkers are allowed one 35-pound duffel bag, and the decorations for their pink tents are included in the 35 pound limit.
“Tent? I’m more of a room service kind of girl,” Taylor said.
Razors, hair dryers, makeup, and the like are to be left at home. The shower truck is an 18-wheeler with one door, but previous walkers said you are so tired by the time you get in there, you don’t care about the lack of privacy. Sleep is for those who can do it despite snoring, phones ringing, and porta-potty doors banging all night long.
If you or someone you love has been touched by breast cancer, and you would like to support breast cancer research, contact either Edie Pritchett at (903) 654-0896, or Jamie Weaver at (903) 875-8742 (or e-mail her at jamielarue@hotmail.com) to find out the many different ways to donate to the cause.
“In my mind, if walking 60 miles will somehow and someday help to find a cure for breast cancer, I will walk no matter what,” Weaver said. “I will continue to walk every year for the rest of my life.”
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Deanna Brown may be contacted via e-mail at deanna@corsicanadailysun.com

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