Walk of Champions Raises Record-setting $81,000
WARE — Last month’s fifth annual Walk of Champions, held at the Quabbin Reservoir to benefit the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, raised a record-setting $81,000, with donations continuing to come in. Amid the scenic views of the reservoir, more than 1,100 walkers participated in the event.
“In addition to the hundreds of walkers and more than 45 teams, our local businesses were great supporters of the Walk of Champions; contributions of more than $16,000 in sponsorships from local businesses alone benefited this year’s walk,” noted Deb Gagnon, development manager for Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. Country Bank for Savings was this year’s presenting sponsor of the walk, and Intercity Lines Inc. of Warren was the gold sponsor.
“Patients who are being treated here for cancer benefit from our patient-centered environment and the expertise of our medical staff from the Baystate Regional Cancer Program. We also offer family support counseling, educational materials, pastoral care, and state-of-the art equipment, plus so much more, thanks to the continuing generosity of our community,” said Gagnon.
“The outstanding number of walkers speaks volumes to the support our community members have for our patients and for Baystate Mary Lane Hospital,” she added. “Hundreds that participated in this event witnessed the ocean of walkers in white T-shirts as they came together to show those touched by cancer that they do not make this journey alone.”
Gagnon noted that Darryl and Damian Goudreau, from D & D Fitness Factory in Ware, brought added strength to this year’s walk, focusing their efforts in memory of their sister-in-law, Donna Goudreau, who received care at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. The Goudreau family held a special event in April to benefit the Walk of Champions, enabling their team to donate thousands of dollars to the walk.
“In addition to their financial donations, they volunteered their time to set up at the Quabbin the day before the walk,” said Gagnon. “It was an honor to work with the Goudreau family this year on the walk; they are an outstanding group who give of their time, experience, and expertise to enhance our community.”
Local businesses offering additional support included Pioneer Provisions, Wal-Mart, Health New England, Janine’s Frostee, the West Brookfield Rescue Squad, Family First Bank, and Quirk Wire. Other businesses and groups who sponsored shortcut levels were noted along the walk route for their support of cancer services at Baystate Mary Lane, said Gagnon.
“It was an amazing day,” she added. “Our patients, joined by their families and friends, supported each other during the very moving walk, which surpassed last year’s total of $56,000, all to benefit cancer care right here in our community. I speak on behalf of the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Mary Lane Hospital in saying ‘thank you’ to the many teams, individual walkers, corporate and in-kind sponsors, schools, and volunteers who helped to make the fifth annual Walk of Champions a huge success.”
For more information on the Walk of Champions, or to find out how to become involved in next year’s walk, call Gagnon at (413) 967-2458.
