Hundreds of walkers hit Naperville’s Riverwalk Sunday for the Breathe Deep DuPage Walk to End Lung Cancer.
Sunday marked the 15th annual fundraising event, offered by Lungevity, the nation’s largest non-profit lung focused group. Event manager Heather Domabyl said it was among 40 events nationwide, and the Naperville walk, like virtually all others, was a grass-roots effort.
“We oversee these events all over the country and usually someone in a community comes forward and wants to remember or honor someone who was lost, and we help them get things started,” Domabyl explained.
Naperville resident and event coordinator Melissa Fosco is one of those people who has helped keep the local effort moving.
“My mother-in-law was someone I was very close to and she found out in 2009 she had lung cancer,” Fosco said. “She died in 2011, and we decided to come out that year and walk here as a family. This is now our 7th year and, after two years of volunteering, I took on doing this event on my own. We need this to get the word out and raise more awareness.”
Beverly Craney of Naperville said she has come to support the walk for nearly a decade after losing her mother to lung cancer 12 years ago.
“This weekend was her birthday, and I actually started a walk like this in Ohio for her when I lived there,” Craney said. “Being part of this gives you a good feeling, and here in Naperville – I’ve seen things grow. We’ve come a long way.”
To date, the Naperville walk has raised $666,000 over its 15 year history and organizers said the goal this year was to reach $50,000.
“We usually get an average of about 400 to 500 participants, and our fundraising ranges from $40,000 to $65,000 annually,” Domabyl said.
The event included either a 3/4 or 1 1/2 -mile walk as well as a number of children’s activities, refreshments, a silent auction and a raffle. A balloon launch kicked off the race.
Many wrote names and messages on the balloons. Others came as teams with T-shirts and pictures remembering those who have been stricken with the disease.
“This is the second time we’ve come to this event since my mom passed away,” said Kristin Soyke, of Oswego. “My mom died in January of 2016 and she was just 64 years old. We were looking for a way to spread the word about cancer awareness, and we found this local event.”
Soyke’s daughter Elayna, 10, said the event “was a good way” to remember her grandmother.
“I like being able to support other people, and thinking that this is something my grandmother would like makes me feel good,” Elayna said.
Elayna’s grandfather, Terry King of Sherrard, said he was thankful to be doing something with his family.
“My wife Janet passed suddenly once they had the correct diagnosis, and it’s been very gratifying since to see the efforts people are making,” King said.
Barbara McCarthy of Lisle said her mother-in-law died in 2011, and the walk helps keep her memory alive.
“I think this is a great way to honor and amazing woman,” Barbara McCarthy said.
“For me, this makes me feel good and is a way to keep our kids connected to their grandmother,” added her husband, Steve McCarthy. “She was a big Packer fan and I’m wearing this shirt today for her.”
The day was also one of celebration for survivors like Sue Van Dusen of West Chicago who has been battling cancer since 2007.
“It’s great to see the support here and gives me hope,” Van Dusen said, who is still undergoing treatment. “Sometimes I come here with family and other times, with friends. I’m always touched by the people and the balloons they make to remember friends and family.”
Amanda Weinreis of Naperville wrote a lengthy message to her grandmother, who died in July, on a balloon.
“I see this as a way for our family to come together and include my grandmother in what we’re doing, even though she’s not physically here,” Weinreis said. “She was 78, and this makes me feel like she’s still here.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
