By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Brenda Wassum and Gretchen McCall have walked for the past few months until they had blisters and they are happy with each step they take.
These two friends are walking for Caroline Loftis, Terri Wassum and Diane Doucette, who unfortunately did not survive breast cancer. They also walk for Doris Dolby, who is a breast cancer survivor.
Wassum, of Granite Quarry, and McCall, of Salisbury, will walk for two days in a couple of weeks during the Avon Walk Charlotte. This is the second year they’ve participated in the walk. The women also have to raise $1,800 each. It may seem like much, but to them, it’s a small price.
“We do this so someone else doesn’t have to lose their mom or sister,” McCall said.
Caroline Loftis is McCall’s mother who died of breast cancer 12 years ago. She’d found a lump, but waited to have it checked. She had a mastectomy and was in remission for a time. The cancer returned. It was too late. By the time it was discovered, it was in several places throughout her body.
“She’s my heart,” McCall said tears forming.
At 36, Terri Wassum, Brenda’s sister-in-law, died from breast cancer. Twelve years ago, Doris Dolby, Wassum’s mother, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been cancer free since then.
In 2003, Wassum’s sister, Diane Doucette, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy, where only the lump and some surrounding tissue were removed. She was in remission until 2005, when the cancer returned.
Unbeknownst to Diane, the aches and pains she was experiencing were not work related, but cancer related.
Wassum believes now that her sister deep down knew it was cancer, but was scared, she said.
Diane did not receive treatment in time. She died in 2005 at 48.
When it seems like Wassum or McCall could easily give in to the pain, they remember who they are walking for, “that keeps us going,” Wassum said.
“We keep telling ourselves we can do this,” she said.
This friendship was formed after Wassum wore a breast cancer T-shirt to work at Salisbury Pediatrics. When the two started talking they realized they had a lot in common, especially how breast cancer affected them.
The women have been fundraising for months at work and throughout their community. However, they still have not reached their goal. Both have raised just under $1,000.
Wassum has even connected with Olwyn Wagoner, a Granite Quarry woman who is creating T-shirts for Wassum to sell. Wagoner is also a breast cancer survivor. She is placing embroidered designs on the shirts and canvas bags. Wassum designs the bags and Wagoner sews them. Wassum has also sold fleece blankets that she’s made with the pink ribbon logo on them.
McCall has even done some fundraising on the social networking site, Facebook.
The two women have been training for months. They are up to about 22 miles, which they just recently completed. The walk is Oct. 24-25. On the first day, walkers complete 26.2 miles and 13.1 the next day.
“We are doing something to make a difference,” McCall said.
“We have nieces and we don’t want them to have go through this,” Wassum said.
For more information about how to donate to Brenda Wassum, e-mail her attwohearts79@yahoo.com and Gretchen McCall at gretchenmccall@gmail.com or www.avonwalk.org and type in McCall or Wassum’s name under donate.