Benfield to participate in New York breast cancer awareness walk

Thousands of people will join together to raise funds and awareness for the breast cancer research by walking on the weekend of October 2-3, 2004. Among these many people is Milledgeville resident and GC&SU staff member Kim Benfield.

Also an alumni of Georgia College & State University, Benfield, 22, will walk in New York for the last Avon Breast Cancer Walk of 2004 to help raise awareness of breast cancer and raise funds to provide care and find a cure for breast cancer. Benfield graduated in May 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations.

“The experience I gained from that degree has helped me a lot in preparing for this event,” Benfield said. “I have been able to use those skills in raising money, creating awareness and publicity.”

This is one of the six events in a series of fundraising walks for breast cancer. The walks are non-competitive and are set up for walkers of various fitness levels. Walkers will be given the choice to complete a marathon walk (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half walk (39.1 miles).

“I will strive to do the marathon and a half walk,” Benfield said. “I chose this walk because I have supported others in previous years, but never had the time or resources to do it then.”

Benfield is taking on this challenge because all women (and even some men) are at risk for breast cancer.

“I realize that I am, along with every other woman, at risk, and by educating myself about the disease, I can hopefully prevent it or have hope of surviving the disease,” Benfield said.

In 2003, the American Cancer Society reported that approximately 211,300 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with breast cancer, while 39,800 women passed away from it. An estimated 1,300 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men this year. Benfield is also inspired by all of the cancer survivors she has met over the years through her work with the American Cancer Society.

“In all my roles, I have served as a planner or coordinator,” Benfield said. “I now felt it was time to actually just be a volunteer and add that experience.”

Benfield has been training for the walk since January. She does a lot of walking, and has also started doing cardio and strength training.

“I have actually killed several birds with one stone,” Benfield said. “I’m raising money for a great cause, I get to see a place I haven’t been to yet and, with training, I have learned how to have a better, healthier lifestyle.”

Like everyone else walking in the breast cancer walk, Benfield is required to raise a minimum of $1,800 to participate. However, she has a higher goal in mind and is trying to raise $2,000.

“At my last count, I have raised about $1,500. I am hoping to turn in all of my money by Sept. 18.,” Benfield said. “I would love to still be able to raise $2,000. It’s such a worthy cause and the disease affects everyone, so I would hate to just do the minimum.”

Benfield would like to thank the GC&SU community for all the support they have shown so far.

“I would never be able to do this without their help!” Benfield said.

Any Milledgeville residents or GC&SU students that wish to allocate their money towards her efforts are welcomed to. Funds donated are distributed by the Avon Foundation, an accredited public charity which uses the money for breast cancer awareness and education, screening and diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research.

For more information about Benfield’s walk, visit her site at http://www.kimavonwalk.com.

To donate money to Benfield, a check may be sent made payable to the “Avon Walk for Breast Cancer” at: The GIVE Center, Campus Box 100, Milledgeville, GA 31061.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 3 2004. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry