Source: The News-Enterprise
Breast cancer survivor Dora Graybill and Pomeranian Sophie dressed as unicorns Saturday for Atria Senior Living in Elizabethtown’s annual Tails & Ta-Tas 5K Walk.
The two were dressed for the event’s dog costume and owner/dog look-alike contests.
Graybill overcame triple-negative breast cancer 12 years ago. She was 36 when diagnosed, four years younger than the recommended age for women to begin having mammograms.
“I got really lucky,” Graybill said, noting if it hadn’t been for her doctor she wouldn’t be here today.
Graybill attended the walk in downtown Elizabethtown to help bring awareness to breast cancer.
Also there to help bring awareness were Shannon and Ally Burckley, whose Italian Greyhound was dressed in a cow costume.
“Breast cancer awareness is important to my family. We have family members and close friends who have battled,” Shannon Burckley said. “We want to raise money for a good cause.”
Mattie, a yellow Labrador retriever, won the dog costume contest.
“But she is a lion today. A lioness,” said Janet Robinson, owner
Robinson walked in the event to support those battling, have experienced or know someone dealing with breast cancer.
“I’ve got several dear friends who have breast cancer and I am walking on their behalf,” she said, noting Kendra Stewart Scott told her about Saturday’s event. “I wanted to make sure I was a part of it.”
Aside from the dog costume and owner/dog look-alike contests, the event also featured information booths, yoga by Karma Yoga and music, along with a breast cancer survivor breakfast after the walk.
Atria Executive Director Cindy Bratcher on Saturday said participation doubled this year.
Although the walk was centered on breast cancer, the proceeds help those affected by all types of cancer. Money raised from the event will go to the Hardin Memorial Health Foundation to support a cancer care resource center.
“We’ve been working for months on the development of the cancer resource center, which right now is going to be a room in the building next to the Cancer Care Center on Robinbrooke,” Shaw said, noting it’s going to be renovated. It will be a place where a nurse will always be on site, and people, whether battling cancer or supporting someone in the battle, can go for help.
Perry said it will be for all cancers, cancer patients, survivors, family and friends.
Renovations on the building should start a week from Monday, Shaw said, and they hope to have a ribbon cutting by the holidays.
For next year, Bratcher said the goal is to have the event as a walk/run.
“We’re going to continue to do this for this community so we can raise awareness,” she said.
