3,000 Expected on 2nd Day of Walk for Breast Cancer

This morning, more than 3,000 people are due to begin the second leg of a three-day walk to raise money for breast cancer research.

Day two of the 60-mile Avon Breast Cancer walk will begin at 9:30 at Oxnard State Beach and end 20 miles later at Ocean View Middle School in Oxnard.

The final leg will take the walkers to Zuma Beach.

Walkers collected donations and pledges. The minimum contribution for each walker is $1,800. So far this year, 18,000 people nationwide have participated in the three-day walks and have raised $36.5 million.

At the end of Friday’s hike from Santa Barbara, blue tents awaited the group of friends, family and survivors of breast cancer.

Some have trained months for the walk, which Avon officials estimate will raise $6.6 million for breast cancer research and support services.

Joining the walk was a milestone for Ventura resident Beverly Eidson, 74. She heard about the event last year while undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer.

“It’s a shock when you learn you have cancer. You wonder every day if it’s spreading,” said Eidson, who smiled and looked at her watch as a reminder that she has remained cancer-free for one year and two days.

Eidson was walking with her son Glen, who had shaved his head in a show of solidarity when his mother’s hair fell out. The two have spent every weekend training for the walk.

“I felt bad about taking him away from his family,” Eidson said. “But they were proud of us.”

At the end of each day’s walk, participants are greeted by about 500 volunteers, offering everything from food to first aid.

Sterrett Harper, 48, visited the foot care triage table with a blister. He heard about the event at its closing ceremony last year.

“A group of survivors held hands and made this circle of life,” he said. “They were praying for those who didn’t make it.”