Stamping out breast cancer

"If you live 20 miles from anything, you are within walking distance."

That's an expression Williams residents Patti Turner and Pixie Rennick share with thousands of other people training for the Susan G. Komen "3-Day for the Cure" in October.

"It definitely keeps you motivated," said Turner, who has logged over 140 miles since signing up for the event over a month ago. "It's what inspires us to get up and be out walking by 6 a.m."

Turner and Rennick are training for the 60-mile endurance walk to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and community-based breast health and education programs.

Since its inception in 1982, the Komen Foundation has raised over $1.5 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the world.

"What a wonderful way to fulfill a promise between two sisters," Turner said.

Turner and Rennick will leave San Francisco on Oct. 1, and walk 23 miles their first day, under the team name "Walking 4 Udders," a name given to them by Tuner's mother, Glorietta Alvernaz, in honor of the family's long involvement in the cattle industry.

"It's something I wanted to do after my aunt died from the disease in 2001," Turner said. "I just didn't have a walking partner."

Since teaming up, Turner and Rennick walk 8 to 15 miles four days a week, and cross train two days a week.

"That's a lot of blisters," Turner said. "At least we get to rest one day a week."

On Saturday, Turner and Rennick walked in the shadow of the Sutter Buttes, where they paired up with two other women from the Yuba-Sutter area who are training for the 3-Day event in San Diego.

Each share similar stories about family and friends lost to the disease, or loved ones who battled the disease and survived.

Rennick, who is the mother of three daughters and grandmother to three girls, walks in the hope that breast cancer will be wiped out in their lifetimes.

"I think everyone knows somebody who has had breast cancer," Rennick said. "Fortunately, breast cancer now has a high survival rate, especially in Colusa County. We have a lot of survivors."

By Sunday, the pair was back out in the Williams countryside with the rattlesnakes, bees and wild boars.

In addition to the time commitment for training, Turner and Rennick pledged to raise $2,300 each for breast cancer research.

"It's kind of scary to commit that much, but we think we can do it," Turner said. "We have a lot of support in the community."

Morning Star and Granzella's have both committed to help sponsor the team, although Turner and Rennick still have a long way to go to meet their financial goals.

Each appreciate the donations they get, and each day they are a little closer to their target, Turner said.

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently occurring types of cancer worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, with almost one million new cases diagnosed each year.

To make a donation in Turner's and/or Rennick's name, go to www.the3day.org or call 800-996-3DAY to make a donation over the phone.

"It is our hope that by working together breast cancer can be cured, once and for all, in the very near future," Turner said.

YOU CAN HELP

To support Patti Turner’s and Pixie Rennick’s team “Walkin’ 4 Udders” in the Susan G. Komen San Francisco 3-Day for the Cure, Oct. 1-3, log onto www.the3day.org and donate in their names or call 800-996-3DAY.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com