People from surrounding communities gathered at Devereux Beach on Sunday, Oct. 8 for the 18th annual Breast Friends Walk. All funds raised benefit breast cancer patients of Mass General Hospital’s Chelsea Healthcare Center. Melrose High School senior Emily Lucien is entering her third year as the walk’s organizer, and is ready for a family member to take on the mantle next.
Emily Lucien first got involved in the Breast Friends Walk eight years ago through her cousin, Grace Elmer. However, the cause became all the more important to her when her mother Elizabeth was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in Aug. 2018.
“It was pretty severe and it started to spread pretty fast,” Emily Lucien said. “She was getting treatment, going through chemo, and doing everything she possibly could.”
Elizabeth Lucien passed away in Feb. 2019. Emily Lucien credits the support she received from her community and loved ones when her mother was battling cancer as a driving force for her dedication to raising money and giving back through the walk.
“I was able to recognize how fortunate I was in that situation where my community was overly generous. And I know there’s communities where people aren’t as fortunate in that way,” Emily Lucien said. “Just being able to help them by providing services when they don’t have the money or resources for it, they can receive service through a Breast Friends donation and hopefully help either prevent or save their lives from breast cancer.”
As Emily Lucien prepares to start her collegiate journey next year, she is handing organizer of the Walk responsibilities off to her younger cousin Rocco Scenna. A sophomore at Lynnfield High School, Scenna has participated in the walk alongside his family members growing up. He has recruited friends and soccer teammates to partake as well. Scenna’s mother, Rebecca, is the sister of Elizabeth Lucien. Scenna explained how important this cause is to him as he grew up having a close relationship with his aunt.
“Ever since I was young we would see each other,” Scenna said. “She would drive me places. She was really funny and was always joking around with me. I was close with her right until the end.”
Some of Emily Lucien’s responsibilities as organizer include contacting businesses for sponsorships, social media outreach, and coordinating with Mass General and the town of Marblehead. However, Scenna is confident he is ready to follow in his older cousin’s footsteps.
“It’s a lot of work but I think I’m ready to take it over,” Scenna said. “It’s going to be something that I look forward to.”
The Breast Friends Walk is an extension of the Breast Friends Foundation, which was founded by Marblehead’s Sara Bryant in 2006 before she lost her own battle with breast cancer in 2009.