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The mother and daughter team of Helena and Cortney Beck of Eagle River are participating in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Expo in Boston Aug. 4 thorough 6.
STAR PHOTO BY MARY M. RALL
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An Eagle River mother and daughter are taking up the fight against breast cancer one step at a time.
Helena Beck, owner of Studio La Tulipe, and her 16-year-old daughter, Cortney, are planning to take to the streets of Boston Aug. 4 through 6 as they participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Expo, which takes walkers on a 60-mile, three-day walking tour of the city while raising funds for breast cancer treatment and research.
Helena said she has been a volunteer with cancer-oriented projects before, but was inspired to participate in the walk by her neighbor, Evelyn, a cancer survivor who has overcome breast, stomach, colon and adrenal gland cancer. She said she wanted to participate in the walk with Cortney as a show of support for her neighbor of three years.
"It affects so many women around us and family too and neighbors and friends that it's become personal," Helena said, adding she first heard about the walk from client Marlene Rice of Eagle River, who will be participating in the event too.
But, just the idea of participating wasn't enough. Helena and Cortney have found the road to the event a challenge in itself as they each are working to raise $2,200 in registration fees, all of which goes to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which is dedicated to education and research on breast cancer causes, treatment and the search for a cure.
"We're not allowed to walk unless we meet that amount," Helena said, adding that she cashed in airline miles for plane tickets to Boston, and they have been fundraising and acquiring donations to pay for the event and lodging fees.
Cortney, an Eagle River High junior, said Helena has raised her $2,200, but she is $500 shy of reaching her own goal. She said she has done everything from having bake and garage sales to face painting at community events to selling pink ribbons at local stores to raise money.
She said working to raise the funds has taught her lessons in responsibility.
"You have to do it on your own," Cortney said "That's why I like having a greater fee, because it makes you do more rather than just entering. Because you have to fundraise, and you have to organize, and you have to participate."
Cortney said cancer touched her life personally when her grandfather died two years ago while staying with her family in Eagle River during his final stages of the disease.
"It's really sad - the stages someone has to go through," she said. "It's almost like you're watching someone die slowly."
Helena said she is proud to see the work her daughter has done and feels the experience has given her a greater compassion for others.
"Cancer in general is going to affect somebody near us or ourselves, (and) we hope that people would do the same for us if we ever find ourselves in a situation like that," she said.
By participating in the event, Helena said she and Cortney would be working to help find a cure and give people fighting cancer support and the knowledge they are not alone.
She said support from the community has demonstrated that it's a cause close to the hearts of many others as well.
"I've been overwhelmed of how willing people have been to give," Helena said. "It makes you willing to continue to do this more often."
Donations in support of Cortney's fundraising efforts can be made at www.the3day.org by typing in her full name under the "Boston" link under the "Donate" tab.
Reach the reporter at mary.rall@alaskastar.com.
