Somewhere in the world, a woman dies from breast cancer every 69 seconds. Every woman is at risk for breast cancer—a disease that strikes at random and for which the cause and symptoms are still unknown. Every moment counts.  We cannot wait to make a difference. “It takes on a whole other meaning when you have a daughter of your own,” Melissa states. Her daughter Alexis will be three years old this summer.  Alexis walked for her first time at the Mall last weekend.  Yes, they have children’s races, too! 

Stacy, Amy, and Melissa raise money every year for this Mother’s Day 5K.  Most profits come from friends, family or co-workers.  Stacy (Shaunce) works for Truth Tool, in Owatonna and resides in Albert Lea.  Amy (Curley) works for Short’s Travel Management in Waterloo, Iowa where she has lived for 4 years. Melissa (Olson) works for the Albert Lea Medical Center and also resides in Albert Lea.  They grew up in Geneva/Ellendale and attended NRHEG. Their father is Lyle Shaunce of Geneva. “It’s hard to plant roots in a different city,” Amy says. “You don’t have that small-town connection where everyone knows you like you have at home.  Facebook is just not the same.”

This year Amy has taken on the most extensive challenge Susan G. Komen offers: walk 60 miles over the course of three days, camping out at night with thousands of other women and men in the Twin Cities August 19-21st. There’s a hefty fundraising commitment for each walker, $2300 minimum.

“Walking is truly the least I can do. It’s going to be hard to balance work and training—but people do it all the time. I don’t have kids—my sisters do. I am going to hit the pavement this time for all of us, all of my supporters and their loved ones, too! The more the merrier. I am hoping the NRHEG area will help support me. Lord knows we’ve all spent money on more foolish things,” Curley notes.

Sixty miles can take you quite a way in one direction: Ellendale to Rochester as a matter of fact, but still no closer to a cure without funding. The Shaunce sisters are hoping to spread the awareness of this disease by walking for a cure and sharing their story with their home town communities.  It’s not too late to participate in Susan G. Komen events across the country.  Let this story encourage you to find an event that suites you at www.komen.org! 

To support Amy with her three-day, 60-mile challenge, there are three ways to do so: 

1. Online - Blog (with a link to the fundraising page) http://2getherwewalk.blogspot.com/ 

2. Phone - 800-996-3DAY Reference Amy’s ID: 5886579

3. Mail - Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure, PO Box 660843 Dallas TX 75266-0843

Checks shoulds be made payable to Susan G. Komen 3-day for the Cure). Reference Amy’s ID: 5886579.