Walk co-chairs Becky Gillan and Jane Batkin with Donna Moffly

Mother Nature smiled on the Breast Cancer Alliance as the skies stayed dry for the third annual Hands Across the Avenue commemorative walk down Greenwich Avenue. Despite threatening skies, 650 walkers (including 100 children) marched and strolled on April 27 to honor their mothers, sisters, grandmothers, friends, co-workers and women with breast cancer everywhere. Their efforts raised more than $52,000 to fund research and outreach programs supported by the Alliance.

Team Hoagland's

Women, men, children, dogs, girl scouts, and members of 21 teams walked for many different personal reasons and all for the same cause. Marianne Woudhuysen, 86 years old, was walking in honor of her daughter who has breast cancer. The Fire-Breathing Pickles, otherwise known as Girl Scout Troop 50463, from Eastern Middle School in Greenwich, were walking and learning about good breast health to earn a badge. Alliance founder Kenny King Howe was walking in memory of her good friend and fellow founder Mary Waterman, who still inspires this organization today. Hope Gray, from Dr. Piccaro’s dentist office in Norwalk, has no family connection to breast cancer, but when she heard about the walk from a patient, she couldn’t resist joining in.

(L-R): Abby Fagan, her mother Tricia Fagan, Breast Cancer Alliance Advisory Board chair Maureen Perry and her daughter Caroline Perry.

“People like Marianne, the girl scouts, Kenny, Hope and all the others who donned their pink hats and gave up their Sunday mornings are the inspiration behind our organization. They push us to try hard to make a difference,” said Alliance President Lisa Matthews.

FM radio station 96.7 The Coast got the crowd going with festive music and a contest to open their broadcast and stayed throughout the entire event. Co-chairs Becky Gillan and Jane Batkin thanked the many town officials and sponsors who made the day possible. Joan Gore-Biagiarelli of the Stamford Mobile Mammography Program offered people firsthand glimpses of the Alliance-funded Stamford Mobile Mammogram Van, which is so vital to the underserved women in our community. At shortly after 11:00 a.m., the crowd pushed off and started down the Avenue.

U.S. Representative Christopher Shays with Belinda Benincasa

“We are thrilled that Hands Across the Avenue has now become an established tradition. The support of the many groups who form teams as well as the families and individuals who turn out for this event is truly inspiring. With their help, we can raise awareness about breast cancer and continue to have a significant impact in treating this disease in our community and beyond. Importantly, many have participated for three years, including our lead sponsor Starwood Foundation with Westin Hotels & Resorts and we attract new sponsors each year, such as Omnicom, Inc.,” said the co-chairs.

Team Richards

Donna Moffly, Editorial Director of Moffly Publications and Co-Founder of Greenwich Magazine, and Grand Marshal of this year’s walk, announced that 650 walkers signed up and this year’s “most spirited team” award went to Team HOAG (Hematology & Oncology Associates of Greenwich), which boasted 124 walkers under the direction of Greenwich oncologists Dr. Dick Hollister and Dr. M. Sung Lee. “We’re very excited that so many people got involved in this year’s team. We do this for our patients and it’s gratifying to have such a concrete way to show them we care,” said Audrey Crawford, coordinator of the HOAG team.

Team HOAG

Thanks to all those who braved the weather and did their part to celebrate breast cancer survivors and their families.