Plymouth Residents Walk 60 Miles to Fight Against Breast Cancer

Plymouth resident and former City Commissioner Michele Potter has always supported the local Susan G. Komen 3-Day team, 'Breast of Plymouth,' but everything changed three years ago, when her mother was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

It was then she decided she needed to more than just donate to the cause. She had to get more involved. 

"I do it because of all of the grueling things that breast cancer victims and survivors have to go through - it's the least I can do to put myself physically to the test and to walk for those who may not be able to," Potter said. 

"When my mom got the diagnosis, she made the comment, 'okay I'm not going to win the war, but I'm going to fight each and every battle,' and that's what she's been doing," Potter said. "I've been fortunate to have her around for almost 3 years since the diagnosis."

This year, the walk will begin on Friday, and will trickle through downtown Plymouth Saturday morning and early afternoon. People are invited to Kellogg Park to cheer the walkers on. The fountain will once again be pink and city police officers working that day will be wearing pink shirts in support.

Potter and fellow Plymouth resident and teammate Anne O'Hare said they were both partial to the cheering station in their hometown. 

"They're (cheerleaders) so encouraging - it makes you cry, it makes you laugh and it keeps you going because right about when you're feeling that your feet hurt, and you're tired, you get a bunch of people cheering you on and you forget about your own misery," O'Hare said. "People come out of their houses and stand there and clap. Plymouth goes all out. It's like we're Olympic athletes. You go through and hit peoples hands and you see familiar faces."

"I don't know where they get all these people from, but they fill the park," O'Hare said laughing.

Potter says everybody cheering always thanks the participants for walking. 

"For me, it's not a real selfless act," she said. "I'm doing this because I want to find a cure. I don't want other people have to hear their mom give them this horrible news of a breast cancer diagnosis. And it just feels good to do it. I'm getting as much out of it as anybody else is."

Despite the physical exhaustion of walking 20 miles a day for three days, both women said the experience is amazing.

"You're a little emotionally and physically tired at the end of day one and day two, and by day three when you walk over that finish, it's exhilarating," Potter said. "You feel a great sense of accomplishment and camaraderie with all the other walkers. It's just this overwhelming sense of community and support. I've never been involved in anything that has made me feel so alive, honestly."

In 2012, the Michigan 3-Day reported 1,100 walkers and raised $3.2 million. According to Sheri Phillips, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day national spokesperson, 75 percent of the net proceeds raised by the event go to support Komen's Research and Training Grant Program as well as large public health outreach programs for breast cancer victims. The remaining 25 percent helps fund local community and affiliate support and outreach programs.

For more information, visit www.the3day.org.