On Oct. 8, supporters and walkers of every age and background will gather for the 18th annual Breast Friends Walk at Devereux Beach for the approximately 2-mile loop around Marblehead Neck.
All funds raised will benefit breast-cancer patients at the MGH Chelsea Healthcare Center by supporting the center’s essential services including transportation, childcare, assistance with appointment scheduling, and translation services – all of which eliminate the barriers to critical breast-cancer screenings that help detect cancer early and save lives.
The connection between the Breast Friends Walkand the town of Marblehead goes back many years. In 2006, following her own diagnosis of breast cancer, Sara Bryant established the Breast Friends Foundation to provide a community support system for those undergoing cancer treatment. After Sara’s passing in 2009, her legacy and commitment to helping others was carried forward by her husband Adam and her mother-in-law, Carol Smith, before the baton was handed off to Grace Elmer. Grace, who was a 14-year-old Marblehead High School student at the time, took it upon herself to champion the walk until she entered college in 2019, passing the responsibility off to her cousin, Melrose High School student Emily Lucien.
With these strong local connections and leadership with close personal ties to the mission, the walk has continued to gain popularity, drawing crowds and donors from across New England.
To date, the Breast Friends Walk has raised more than $464,848.
To learn more, to donate or to register for the Breast Friends Walk visit https://giving.massgeneral.