By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Sept. 19, 2002
Jeanna Mars of the Martin community is an Avon representative with a mission.
She is one of more than 7,000 people expected to walk 60 miles in three days next month to raise money to fight breast cancer. An Avon representative for four years, Mars said she had intended to participate in the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day event many times before.
The Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day is scheduled in Atlanta for Oct. 4-6.
Mars has raised about $1,600 of her $1,900 pledge.
The money she raises will go to the Avon Foundation to be distributed for breast cancer research, clinical care, support services, education and programs for early detection.
Mars has had many battles with cancer before, in different ways.
Her mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of months before she committed to the walk. Both of Mars' grandparents died of cancer and this summer her grandson, Jonathan Mars, died of cancer.
Mars, 42, hasn't done any special training for the walk, but she usually walks about 8 miles at least five days a week. Walkers are assigned pup tents at the Breast Cancer 3-Days and in between stops, crews pack up the walkers' belongings and tents and set them up at the next stopping point.
Mars plans to leave for Atlanta Oct. 3 to attend opening ceremonies for the event.
Breast Cancer 3-Day events have been held this year in Boston, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Florida and Michigan, where participants raised more than $40 million.
Walks are scheduled in New York and Los Angeles in October after the Atlanta event.
The walks began four years ago as part of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade; more than 58,000 people have participated.
The walk received national media attention recently when it was reported that Pallotta TeamWorks, a for-profit company in California that organizes the event, had closed its doors and laid off its employees, but the walks are continuing as scheduled.