Off Hours: Linda Karewa set to walk 60 miles for breast cancer

by Christine DeCesare

Remember when some people would walk a mile for a Camel? Now, Linda Karewa, who works in Alumni Relations, will join approximately 3,000 other people who will walk 60 miles over three days to raise awareness of breast cancer.

Even though Karewa has no emotional involvement in the cause, she had been thinking about participating in the walk for a few years. After she heard an ad on the radio, she called for the information and committed to raising the $1,900 minimum required. (She has raised $2,700 so far.)

Tips on fund raising were provided by the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, sponsor of the walk. “Most of the fund-raising ideas were not my style,” Karewa said, so she mailed about 100 heart-shaped letters with a pink border (the official color associated with breast cancer awareness) to friends and acquaintances. Most everyone responded with a donation.

The next hurdle was finding a tentmate. Karewa asked everyone she talked to with no success. Finally she mentioned it to her roommate from college, who agreed. Karewa was prepared to walk by herself and have a tentmate assigned to her but she is happy to have a friend to share the experience with. She doesn’t know whether she is prepared for the emotional displays she will witness on the walk, but she has a lot of support from her family: Her husband, Bob, and daughter, Amy, will be at the specified cheering sections when Karewa walks by.

Karewa has been training since January, but she’s not really worried about the physical part of the effort. “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” she says. “A lot of women walking will have cancer.”

On May 16, Karewa will board a bus headed to Fitchburg, Mass., where the walk begins. May 16 is called Day Zero, during which participants register and watch a safety video. Opening ceremonies will begin May 17 at 7 a.m., and the walk will conclude at the Boston Common at 5 p.m. May 19.

Karewa has started gathering the items she will need to pack. She plans to put cornstarch on her feet and has invested in some good quality socks in the hope they will keep the blister kit tucked away in her bag.

Do you know someone at Brown who has an interesting avocation or public service project? Call the George Street Journal at 863-2476 or send e-mail to GSJ@brown.edu.