Walking with a cause: woman takes strides for breast cancer awareness

  • Published
  • By Meredith March
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. -- --  Walking 39 miles in two days is physically and emotionally punishing, but one Hanscom spouse determined the training and two-day trek to be worth the sacrifice to raise money for the fight against breast cancer. 

Boston recently hosted an Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, which benefits local and national breast cancer research, education, prevention and support organizations. More than 2800 participants raised approximately $6.7 million during the 2007 Boston walk, held May 19 and 20, according to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Web site, http://walkavonfoundation.org. 

Melissa Vodicka, who is married to Staff Sgt. Todd Callbeck, 66th Comptroller Squadron finance technician, trained for and participated in the walk. Ms. Vodicka is a member of Team Wild Women Originals, a Boston-based group composed of 83 members who train and walk together to raise money for a breast cancer cure. Similar groups and teams meet nationwide and participate as walkers or crew members in various walks across the country, Ms. Vodicka said. 

Training for the charity walks is rigorous. "Our team training is typically every Saturday and Sunday, and we walk as a group, doing 10 to 15 miles per day," Ms. Vodicka said. 

In addition, she trains individually by walking six miles several times per week. "I am at close to 150 training miles. You have to stretch yourself to what you think your limits are and then go beyond that. It is a shock to me what I am actually capable of; most of the limitations we have for something like this are actually just mental, and those are what take the most work," she said. 

The opportunity to raise money for the cause is worth the sacrifice to her because as a registered nurse, Ms. Vodicka has worked closely with breast cancer patients and survivors of all ages and in all stages of the disease.

 "I have worked with women who have been survivors for many years, as well as others who are freshly out of surgery and struggling with body image problems and fear relating to a cancer diagnosis; and some who thought they had beaten the disease, but have ended up with complications and the return of cancer." 

The youngest breast cancer patient Ms. Vodicka has treated was just 28 years old, and had undergone a mastectomy. 

"The strength and struggles these people go through tear at my heart, and I walk in their behalf," she said. By participating in the walks, Ms. Vodicka and Team WWO support the fight against breast cancer on many levels. 

"We raise money, and we also hope to raise awareness of the disease, its risk factors, how common it is, and how to detect it. With this increased awareness, early detection and improved healthcare, we hope to eventually not have to watch our daughters and granddaughters fight breast cancer," she said. 

For more information on breast cancer walks or Team WWO, visit the team's Web site at www.teamwwo.com.