Women of Scot´s Take on Cancer

The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade was founded in 1993, and its mission is to raise money to provide women with direct access to breast cancer education and early detection screening services: mammograms and clinical breast exams. Funds are raised for this in two ways: through the sale of Crusade fundraising (pink ribbon) products by Avon Sales Reps, and through a series of three–day, 60–mile fundraising walks, known as the AVON Breast Cancer 3–Days. In 1999 $4.5 million was raised.

Last year, "The Women of Scot´s"—Sue Who, Michelene, and Marta, along with their family and friends—joined the nearly 3,000 other men and women for the first Chicago–based AVON 3–Day fundraising walk.

Sue remembers last year´s event, "The walk was from Kenosha to Chicago, and we had to be at the park site by 5:45 a.m. They gave us breakfast, and there was a rally and speakers, and we kicked off at 7:45 a.m. to marching music.

"The first day we walked from Anderson Park in Kenosha, down the bike path through North Chicago, Waukegan, then past the Naval Base, and we spent our first night at a makeshift campsite on the grounds of Lake Forest College. Actually, we slept on the baseball field, and as it was all put together by Pallotta Teamworks, the same people who do the AIDS Ride, it was very well organized; there were 500 volunteers, including girl scouts and boy scouts who helped put up the tents. There was also a medical tent, a chiropractic tent, and a podiatry tent for foot care.

"They also had shower trucks, and they served dinner between 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The second night we stayed on the grounds of Old Orchard Junior High School.

"We raised a lot of money from friends and relatives last year, but the majority of the money I got came from fundraisers at Scot´s bar. The people at Scot´s were wonderful. Tom Scot started fundraising around Easter last year, but this year we´ve started earlier. We have to raise at least $1,800 for each of us, and there´s probably 8 or 9 of us walking this year."

So far "The Women of Scot´s" have collected more than 50 prizes for their upcoming Mega–Raffle; including donations of gift certificates from 20 different restaurants, major hotel gift certificates, items from radio stations like WXRT plus autographed memorabilia donated by Melissa Etheridge herself, and too many other prizes to name here.

In addition to the Mega–Raffle (tickets $2 each, or 6 for $10), there will also be a Special Raffle (tickets $10 each), and the prize—donated by American Airlines—is two tickets to anywhere in the U.S. Canada, or the Caribbean.

Both raffles are being drawn at Scot´s bar at 1829 W. Montrose, on Sunday, May 7, between 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

You can help the "Women of Scots" by buying raffle tickets or donating money or prizes; just drop into Scot´s bar, or call (773) 528– 3253.

For more information about the walk itself, phone (773) 525– 2960, or write to Avon Breast Cancer 3–Day Chicago, 1350 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 or visit www.breastcancer3day.org

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