Making Strides Together

One thing you can count on at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Point Pleasant Beach is that my wife’s car will be the first in the parking lot right next to the starting point.

A breast cancer survivor, Jane walks with family and friends each year and only in the last five years or so have I joined her group (Team Booberang) and the other 20,000 or so in the early-morning 3 ½ mile stroll. Sunday, along with our daughter Alex, we packed the car, left home at 5:45 a.m. and stopped at New York Bagel on Route 88 where Rich has generously donated to our pre-walk tailgate.

We arrived in the parking lot at Arnold and Ocean Avenues by 6:30am which was 3 ½ hours before the walk was scheduled to begin. As darkness turned to morning light Jane set up the tailgate and by 8am or so the first of our group arrived. It’s as much a social event as anything and one of my favorite parts is watching the groups arrive in mass; many dressed like they’re on their way to a Halloween costume party.

Matching shirts and outfits with special themes are the norm and of course pink is everywhere. The groups are often walking on behalf of survivors as well as in memory of those that have not survived a disease which is expected to take the lives of 40,000 mothers, daughters and sisters this year alone. The Making Strides event though is a celebration of the progress being made and the hope that one day the fight to end breast cancer will be finished.

Speaking of finishes, in another “Team Booberang” and Williams Family tradition it was on to Surf Taco in Point Pleasant Beach after the walk. The end of another good day for a great cause.

Congratulations to Brick Memorial High School teacher Maria Sarluca for completing this weekend’s Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York. Maria did 39 miles through the Big Apple along with friend Kelly Parisi and that included a chilly sleepover on Randall’s Island.

Dr. Joy Mahnken is a chiropractor in Bayville for whom the fight against breast cancer has been long and hard. She is a two-time survivor who has managed to return to her daily practice despite challenges and obstacles. Dr. Mahnken is the mother to two college-aged daughters; Lindsey is a freshman at Stevens Institute who I mentioned last week for her soccer prowess. Courtney is a 20-year old junior at Rowan studying elementary education who has posed for a special picture as a tribute to her mother.