Despite the rain, Lynnfield High School junior, Rocco Scenna, led a group of nearly 250 people for the 19th annual Breast Friends Walk at Devereux Beach.
Scenna said this was his first year organizing the walk after taking over for his cousin, Emily Lucien. Lucien’s mother and Scenna’s aunt, Elizabeth Lucien, died in February 2019 after being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer six months prior.
Peter Lucien, Elizabeth Lucien’s husband, said the Breast Friends walk was important to his wife during her battle with breast cancer.
The annual walk gives him a “sense of community and support,” Peter Lucien said.
He said “it’s great to see some continuity” from his daughter organizing the event to now his nephew.
“It means a lot for the founder, but also for our family and friends to continue to honor people who have passed or who are battling breast cancer,” Peter Lucien said.
Rocco Scenna said he began planning the walk in July after taking it over from his cousin and it is his fifth time walking.
“It’s a really special thing to me… It’s just a special thing for all of us,” he said. “We all know this day is in October and look forward to it.”
The walk is a time to remember his aunt, Rocco Scenna said.
“We always think about her and all the memories we had with her,” he said. “When we walk, we remember all those things and have a chance to honor her.”
Rebecca Scenna, Rocco Scenna’s mother and Elizabeth Lucien’s sister, said seeing her son organize the event has made her and her husband, John Scenna, proud because it is a tribute to his aunt and is meaningful to the entire family.
“The people who came together provided motivation for her in her fight,” Rebecca Scenna said about her sister. “One of the things that she said was, ‘Don’t ever believe that your support doesn’t help someone who needs it.’ And so this is why we do it.”
She said the event raised more than $27,900 before it started and nearly 250 people were registered to walk. They continued to collect donations during the event to reach their goal of $40,000.
All of the money raised will be donated to the Mass General Hospital Chelsea HealthCare Center to help support people with breast cancer, Rebecca Scenna said. She said the money goes specifically to “health equity” — for people who have barriers to accessing healthcare.
Donations will remain open until Nov. 1 and can be made using this link: https://because.massgeneral.org/give/572216/#!/donation/checkout.
