Together with the Lightning Foundation, St. Stephen Catholic Church welcomes the community to take the “steps” necessary in order to combat breast cancer by joining its upcoming effort known as Project Cure.
In its third year, Project Cure is a 60-mile walk taking place from November 14-16, which starts at Natures Way Blvd. in Valrico within the Bloomingdale East Park, running from 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Residents are welcome to walk all three days or just part of the walk – at 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, walking one four-mile lap – the choice is theirs. From this walk, all proceeds go to benefit the Don and Erika Wallace Comprehensive Breast Program at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, with a goal of $50,000 hoping to be reached this year. Astoundingly, Project Cure has raised almost $60,000 the last two years it has been in operation with every cent going to help breast cancer victims.
Having lost two mothers of students enrolled at St. Stephen Catholic School, one in 2003 and another in 2006, church members decided to take action, having first participated in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk. “When we were raising money, we found out that Komen provides grant funding to Planned Parenthood,” says coordinator Lisa Huetteman, managing partner of Black Diamond Associates, who mentions that Komen’s giving to this organization is to make sure low-income women receive breast health from a qualified provider (http://www.bdfund.org/ breastcancer.asp). “While we understand that the funding is provided for breast cancer programs, we could not support an organization that provides funding to another organization that ends lives. We congratulate Komen for the ‘great strides’ they have made in finding a cure, but personally, we could not support them.”
Expecting more than last year’s tally of 100 walkers, St. Stephen Catholic Church welcomes all to support the effort by both raising funds for the effort and taking part in the walk. “Our goal this year is to reach out beyond the St. Stephen community and invite all of the Greater Brandon area to participate,” concludes Huetteman.
If you are interested in registering for the walk or would like more information, go to www.projectcure.ststephencatholic.org. For those who would like to support the effort, send checks made payable to The Lightning Foundation, with Project Cure on the memo line, to St. Stephen Catholic Church, 5049 Bell Shoals Rd., Valrico, FL 33594. For more information, call Huetteman at 685-6185 or email lisa@the-black-diamond.com.
