Walk against breast cancer attracts thousands

James Christ was only 7 years old at the time his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, but he quickly learned about sickness and money when the family sold their West Jordan home to pay for medical treatments.

"We had to grow up early," said James, now 16, as he joined more than 4,000 others Saturday at Liberty Park during the American Cancer Society's walk to raise money for research and support programs.

As James' sister quietly cried, he talked of moving into their grandmother's basement and of the days when his mother was too weak to get out of bed. He and several buddies wore buttons emblazoned with the words, "Cancer Sucks."

"We're fine," said James . "It hit us pretty hard, but we're living in an apartment now and my Mom's doing great."

The walk, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, raised $150,000.

Blessed Sacrament School in Sandy brought in $2,000, mostly in coins that elementary and middle school students dropped in buckets placed next to classrooms. "Everyone is affected by breast cancer, one way or another," said Joel Kincart, regional vice president of the American Cancer Society in Salt Lake City. "Whether it's your wife, your sister, your mom, your aunt, you can make a difference."

Participants donned pink hats, pint T-shirts, pink ribbons and tags with the name of the individual they wanted to honor.

Diane Teece of Salt Lake City wore a pink-and-white sash with the word, "Survivor."
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"I had my last chemotherapy on Thursday and the prognosis looks good," she said. "It's tough but you can get through it."

Julie Tanner also wore a survivor sash. She was diagnosed with breast cancer just after Christmas in 2007. Because her mother had died of the disease, Tanner was a stickler about testing and mammograms. But she was the one who found the lump during a self-examination.

"Nobody knows your body better than you do," she said. "Self exams are important."

Barbara Bradely of Holladay had emblazoned on her shirt the names of several friends who had contracted cancer: "Diane, Cathryn, Kristine, Dee, Peggy, Joyce, Chieko and more."

"We're honoring the individuals who survived and the one who had fought so hard who died," she said. "They're all amazing."