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IN THIS ISSUE
WALK STORIES
IN THE NEWS

Search for TBBCF Executive Director Underway

December 10, 2009

The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation (TBBCF) is searching for a new executive director, a position approved by the nonprofit organization's Board of Directors at their December meeting. A search committee has been formed and charged with identifying the best candidate for the job. The executive director will become a paid position and the position will be advertised after January 1.

Founded by Norma Logan (1958-2006) and Sandy Maniscalco in 2006, TBBCF's promise has always been to direct 100 percent of every donated dollar raised to research with expenses covered by corporate sponsorships and/or grants. From the beginning, TBBCF has ensured corporate sponsors understand that they are sponsoring either a) the ability to run the Foundation or, b) the costs of a fundraising event so that all donated proceeds can go directly to research.

This model illustrates the organization's initial two-year strategy with the plan for "Year 2 and Beyond" of securing funding for the executive director position.

The TBBCF executive director will be responsible for day-to-day activities of the Foundation, including managing an all-volunteer staff; implementing board policy and by-laws; overseeing fundraising and development activities; annual goal setting and business plans, supervising production and distribution of public relations communications, and assisting the TBBCF treasurer in maintaining fiscal integrity.

Earlier this year Sandy Maniscalco assumed the role of acting executive director with an expectation of filling that role until an executive director was named by the board. She announced on December 1 she plans to step down from that role on March 31, 2009.

Maniscalco plans to continue to chair the TBBCF Website and Newsletter Standing Committee and as co-founder will remain a board director emeritus.

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Congratulations to the 2008 Walkers and Crew Volunteers

428 Walkers Make the Journey from Saybrook Point to Camp Harkness in the Third Annual Walk across Southeastern Connecticut   - By Anne Rochette

The skies were clear and the air crisp on Saturday, October 4 as walkers and volunteers gathered at Saybrook Point for the early morning start of the third annual Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut. The walking marathon is the signature fundraiser of the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. The fundraising efforts of the 205 marathoners, 72 half-marathoners, and 151 relay walkers have pushed the total fundraising efforts of the Foundation to date over $1 million in less than three years.

This year the walk expanded from the walking marathon model to include a two-person and a five-person relay event. While each full marathon walker was required to raise $500, the average amount raised per walker was $1,100. Two-person relay team members were required to raise $250. The average dollar amount raised by walkers in this group was $840. The five-person relay team members were required to raise $200 each and the average amount raised by this group was $332. Congratulations to all fundraisers!

Lee Elci of WXLM radio got things rolling as Master of Ceremonies for the Opening Ceremony. Speakers offering words of inspiration and encouragement included, Geralyn McPhail, breast cancer survivor and sister of TBBCF founder Norma Logan, Ashley and Melanie Brodeur, daughters of the late Terri and Tim Brodeur; and Laura Fitzpatrick-Nagel, breast cancer survivor and author of Swimming on My Wedding Day.

The walk, led by Logan, McPhail and Brodeur family members kicked off shortly after 7:00 a.m. Well wishers and crew lined the road and cheered as the walkers set off for Camp Harkness. Before the day was over they would walk through the towns of Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, East Lyme, and Waterford.

The success of the walk is due in no small part to the hard work and dedication of the volunteer crew members. Many of the crew members were returning for a third year. They provided support in many areas including cyclist support, event day advertising, hydration, medical support, massage therapy, opening and closing ceremonies, pit stops, procurement, registration, relay organization, traffic and safety, transportation, walker assistance, walker registration, walker training. Essex TV cameramen and local photographer, Shawn Stiles, documented the event capturing hundreds of images.

Ashley Brodeur, Alex Interlandi, Gina Paulino and Sarah Schuster were the first walkers to walk through the balloon arch at Camp Harkness. Sandy Maniscalco, TBBCF Executive Director and Marcie Brensilver, 17 year survivor and founding member once again led the last walkers to the finish line. This is the third year Marcie has supported the walkers at the back of the pack. This year one of the 'back of the pack' walkers was Heather Gilluly who walked 26.2 miles to commemorate the one-year anniversary of her breast cancer diagnosis. Congratulations to Heather on her amazing accomplishment!

The closing ceremonies capped an exciting day for walkers and volunteers alike. Walkers were cheered on by friends and family as they made their way to the finish line. A festive atmosphere prevailed as live music from Fat Betty entertained the crowd and food provided by Four Mile River Farm and River Tavern filled the crowd. Earlier in the day, Outback Steak House provided lunch to walkers passing through Rocky Neck State Park.

The first inaugural T-shirt Contest winners were awarded just before the official closing ceremonies program began. Many clever and creative designs were sported on walk day. Thank you to all who participated. And congratulations to the winners - runner-up team "Bunco Babes" with the Glinda design to honor friend Shelly Gregory and first-place team "Hogan Heroes" with the superhero design that included capes, masks and T-shirts to honor their mother and sister who are both cancer survivors.

The official program began with recognition of all breast cancer survivors in the audience including walkers, friends, and family. More than forty survivors came forward to receive a rose. We were all reminded of why we do what we do and are encouraged to keep working towards Norma Logan's dream of finding a cure for breast cancer.

TBBCF board member, Stacey Gualtieri acknowledged the top fundraisers and all walkers who are funding research to find a cure. Jay Gionet, TBBCF board member, touched on the research successes funded by the dollars raised by the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation and spoke specifically about the program he developed, Walk Across the Curricula. With amazing success, students at East Lyme Middle School, led by teachers Gionet and Cristina deCastro, and students at Old Saybrook Middle School, led by teacher Shirley Brockway, raised over $50,000 this year participating in the Walk Across the Curricula. This program teaches students to find solutions to math problems while helping to find solutions to real world problems like breast cancer.

In the spirit of recognizing accomplishments, Jay introduced Dr. Samit Chatterjee of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories who was a 2006 TBBCF grant recipient. Dr. Chatterjee's ground-breaking research is directed at understanding breast cancer on the molecular level. This is the first time walkers had the opportunity to hear specifics about the impact of their fund-raising dollars. Dr. Chatterjee was similarly impressed with seeing the excitement and dedication of all who participate in raising funds for his research and that of other researchers.

Closing ceremonies ended with the music from Jill Nesi, Emily Burr, and Stephen Sasson performing the original song, Believe, inspired by Jill's participation in the 2007 Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut.

Congratulations from all of us at the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation to all walkers and crew on your amazing accomplishment! You have our deep admiration and gratitude. Keep walking and we'll see you on the road!

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Top Fundraisers and Fundraising Profile   - By Anne Rochette

The endurance sports fundraiser has become a very successful vehicle for the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. For the 2008 Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, 296 of the 428 walkers had never participated in an endurance event. That is an amazing 70 percent. Many wondered why the training and fundraising pieces were so hard. They are designed to be hard. Based on the 2008 walker stats, most of us were ordinary people engaged in an extraordinary pursuit. When we asked for donations, we were asking friends and family to support the huge sacrifice we were making in the fight against breast cancer.

Summary of Registration

While each full marathon walker was only required to raise $500, the average dollars raised per walker was $1,100. Two-person relay team members were required to raise $250 each. The average dollars raised by individuals in this group was $840. The five-person relay team members were required to raise $200. Average dollars raised by this group was $332. Congratulations to all fundraisers!

For some people, fundraising requires more time, shoe leather, and sales pitches than those who easily passed the minimum. These folks are our lifeblood, as important to us as those people who donate five dollars at a time to the Foundation because that is all they can afford. Ultimately, their money is yours, and vice-versa. When a grant is presented to a scientist, the money is all under one name - The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation. We all have a stake because the idea is to transform cash into something more important, a cure. Remember, 100% of every hard earned penny raised by you goes to the science of breast cancer research and therapeutic discovery. Yet we want to salute the top fundraisers because they exceeded their personal goals and because they raised the bar for the rest of us.

Top fundraiser for 2008 was Shelley Gregory. To date Shelley has raised $13,835. Last year Shelley was glad to be able to walk a marathon from Old Saybrook to Camp Harkness. This year, she did it knowing that she had changed from someone who was just happy to help raise money for cancer research to someone who herself could benefit from the research funded by the TBBCF.

Shelley was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of this past July. Three weeks later she had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. With her oncologist's approval, Shelley postponed her first chemotherapy in order to take part in this year's walk. She inspires us all!

Here's the list of the 2008 top fundraisers

Top Ten 5-Person Relay Teams

  1. Mystic Woman's Club - Captain: Stephanie Thorp - Lois Glazier, Jacqueline Hokanson, Eleanor Jamieson, and Joanie Thorp
  2. Pam's Pink Posse - Captain: Nancy Shepard - Patricia Fraser, Dennaye Garbati, Jaime Labbe, Donna Ruggieri, Cindy Shea, and Judy Teel
  3. Super Six - Captain: Janet Gordon - Nancy Gatta, Julie Gordon, Kelly Kyker-Snowman, Liz Noniewicz and Margaret Shepard
  4. Hodge's Hooters - Captain: Joann Hodge - Vivian Brooks, Judy Georg, Jody Halliday, Kate Powers
  5. Black Hall Babes - Captain: Claudia Kelley - Kathleen Bollo, Elizabeth Lomas, Kathleen Nadeau, and Elizabeth Rodgers
  6. The Rockets - Captain: Tracy Henderson - Jimmy Henderson, Pamela Kruh, Kelly McAlpine, Jessica Skuby, and Stacey Smith
  7. Lizzie's Power Walkers - Captain: Liz Lemiska - Christina Barrows, Mary Brodeur, Maren Rogan, and Jean Stielau
  8. Team Brensilver - Captain: Rachel Brensilver - Shannon Knight, Jessica Kupka, Heather Tarbox, and Kate Yannacci
  9. Team Gabriele's Karate and Kickboxing - Captain: Terry McDowell - Clyda DiNicola, Lori Emery, and Laurie Goldreich
  10. SAVA Sole Sisters - Captain: Jordan Buscetto - Michelle Jacobik, Amanda Jacobik, Ashley Kane, and Allyssa Skelton

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Bunco Babe   - By Sandy Maniscalco

Top fundraiser for 2008 was Shelley Gregory. To date Shelley has raised $13,835. Last year Shelley was glad to be able to walk a marathon from Old Saybrook to Camp Harkness. This year, she did it knowing that she had changed from someone who was just happy to help raise money for cancer research to someone who herself could benefit from the research funded by the TBBCF.

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Marathon with a Meaning   - By Olwen Logan Published 10/02/08 Updated 10/06/08


The photo above shows Shelley (waving) and her friends roughly halfway along their marathon Saturday. Shelley not only successfully completed the walk, but she also was recognized by the organizers as the single highest fundraiser among all the participants! Many congratulations to Shelley on both counts.
Last year Shelley Gregory of Lyme participated in the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk Across Southeastern CT. Back then, she was glad to be able to walk a marathon from Old Saybrook to Harkness State Park and, in the process, support an organization that directs 100% of the fundraising dollars it raises to breast cancer research.

This year, she’s doing it again, but, this time, Shelley is walking those 26 miles and 385 yards knowing that she’s changed from someone who was just happy to help cancer research to someone who herself may benefit from the research funded by the Terri Brodeur organization.

Shelley was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of this past July. Three weeks later she had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She should now be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, but Shelley asked her doctors if she could postpone the start a few weeks in order to take part in the walk, which is being held this Saturday, Oct. 4.

With her oncologist’s blessing, that is exactly what she is doing - only Shelley won’t be entirely alone this year. Twelve of her best friends have teamed up to accompany Shelley on her walk to ensure that at no point is she alone. They have organized a training schedule and had special team T-shirts printed, the design of which is still a secret from Shelley.

Shelley says, "I’m going to take it slow, but it’s really important to me to do this. What better way to start the next phase of my journey (several months of chemotherapy and radiation) ... than after completing this walk?"

The outpouring of support from the community has been, "Unbelievable," notes Shelley, adding, "That’s what’s getting me through this."


Shelley Gregory (back row, fifth from left) stands surrounded by the children attending Cara Lucey's (front row, third from right) 13th birthday party, who raised more than $1,000 for Shelley's 2008 Walk Across Southeastern CT.
She especially wants to mention the group of 12 and 13-year-old children pictured above, who attended a birthday party for Cara Lucey recently. Instead of gifts, each child made a donation to the Terri Brodeur Foundation in honor of Shelley, and more than $1000 was raised. “Isn’t that beautiful?” Shelley asked rhetorically.

The night of the party, she was so overwhelmed by the whole event that, despite, it being only a short time after her return from hospital, in typical determined fashion, Shelley insisted on surprising the party-goers so that she could see them in person to offer her thanks.

Rather than dwelling on the negatives of her situation, Shelley is remarkably upbeat about her situation. "Look at the positives," she says with conviction, then, laughing, she points out, "Look at all the time I’m spending with my husband!"

Taking a serious tone, Shelley comments that if she is able, in any way, to raise the awareness of the need for regular mammograms, especially digital mammograms and ultrasounds, then that would be "good." Her oncologist believes Shelley’s cancer went undetected for as long as two years, despite her regular (non-digital) mammograms.

On Saturday, several hundred people will take part in the walk, which passes along Rte. 156 in Old Lyme, turns left up Cross Lane and right onto Mile Creek Rd., before entering East Lyme as it rejoins Rte. 156. Spectators are encouraged at all points along the route to offer support to the walkers.

We’ll be cheering for Shelley and hoping she crosses that finish line with as much enthusiasm as she had when we interviewed her. We’ll also be thinking of the wonderful words she shared with us that she says have inspired her on this unexpected journey, “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over … it turned into a butterfly.”

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Thanks for your Feedback - Post-Walk Survey!!   - By Patti Burmahl

As if walking 26.2 miles or completing the walk relays isn't hard enough, you then receive an email asking for your feedback on the experience (and most of us receive more than enough emails as it is!). Fortunately for us, many of you took the time to respond to our post-Walk survey (283 people) and we greatly appreciate and value your input!!! The goal of the TBBCF is to continue to improve upon the Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, making this a positive and meaningful experience for all and we could not do this without your continued feedback, input and support.

We committed to share with you the feedback from the post-Walk Survey and you will see a summary in this newsletter. Both walkers and volunteers continue to be positive about their experiences with the Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut. The changes and improvements we made from 2007 to 2008 were seen positively by many and contributed to more than doubling Walker participation. We also received over 30 pages of write-in comments from people, many of which were very positive:

"The entire experience was so well thought out and I appreciated every single person I encountered. Both during training and the day of the walk. I can't think of anything to improve on. The organizers are extremely thoughtful!!"

"I thought the walk was extremely organized. Having participated in a 3 day walk in the past, I was so impressed that this was supported by all volunteers. It was an incredibly rewarding experience for me and am looking forward to walking next year."

"I thought that this was planned and executed so well and kudos to all your staff and crew for all their hard work. Everything was so organized. The crew was so encouraging and supportive. Everyone I met along the way would have done anything to have made sure my needs were met. This was absolutely the best experience. I can't say enough about how organized this event was."

We also heard your input for improvements, including: the opening ceremonies were a bit too long, concerns on some areas of the walk route, the need for improved signs in some places and that transportation could have run more smoothly. Our Walk Team Leaders have read each and every comment and while we cannot address every comment, we look at common themes and will work to improve the Walk and Volunteer experience in 2009.

My favorite piece of feedback from the 2008 post-Walk survey was hearing that 98.5% of you who took the survey would walk again next year. We hope you all do come back and bring 3 or 4 of your friends to walk with you!!

In early 2009, we will officially announce the 2009 Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut and we continue to try and improve upon this event year on year. We hope to see you all out walking or volunteering on October 3, 2009!! Thank you again for your support, your feedback and participation!!! Together, we will find a cure!!

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Bowerbird Gift Wrap Program Generates Over $5,000 for Breast Cancer Research   - By Shawna Constantine

The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation sends a big thank you to The Bowerbird of Old Lyme. TBBCF was the recent recipient of the proceeds from The Bowerbird's 2008 gift-wrap program which ran from November 1, 2007 through October 31, 2008. The Bowerbird presented a check in the amount of $5307 to the Foundation at the post-walk celebration held at Stash's Café in New London on November 15, 2008.

The Bowerbird charges a nominal fee for gift-wrapping purchases and then donates 50% to local non-profit organizations. In the past fifteen years, The Bowerbird has donated over $45,000 to more than 21 local non- profits.

To learn more about the Bowerbird or to browse online visit www.thebowerbird.com.


Pictured presenting the check are from L-R; Chris Kitchings, co-owner of The Bowerbird; Howard Brensilver, MD, President of TBBCF; Jennifer Torgersen co-owner of The Bowerbird.

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Fashion Show Raises over $1,400 for TBBCF   - By Shawna Constantine

The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation extends a warm thank you to The White Dress by the Shore in Clinton, CT. Along with Stonington Design + Paperie and Something Blue Special Events, The White Dress by the Shore hosted a Winter Celebration on Wednesday, December 3. Event guests generously donated over $1400 to TBBCF and breast cancer research.

It was an evening of fashion and festivities. The evening began in The White Dress by the Shore's newly renovated salon space with a fashion show featuring the bridal and mother of the occasion collection (modeled by breast cancer survivors!) of Connecticut-based bridal designer, Modern Trousseau. The crowd then gathered downstairs in the boutique to sip champagne and enjoy savory treats from Gourmet Galley. The evening was capped off at a tasting of delectable wedding cakes by Elizabeth Hodes of New York City and a visit to Gourmet Galley's candy bar that was on display in Chic by the shore - the studio that houses The White Dress by the Shore bridesmaid collection and invitation atelier Stonington Design + Paperie.

Thank you again from TBBCF to The White Dress by the Shore, Stonington Design + Paperie, Something Blue Special Events and the Winter Celebration guests.

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Opening Ceremonies Speech   - By Melanie Brodeur

Good Morning,

Yes I'm sorry for the time... I know a lot of you must be as tired as I am and those of you who aren't... you will be. We are all here for the same disease but not the same reason. Cancer. Four or five years ago I would have asked you what it was if you had brought it up to me. But now I shudder at the name, I hate hearing about it. Now you all may have different reasons to be dressed in sneakers with a frozen water bottle at your side then I do. I'm betting you all know my reason; my mother died 3 years ago of Breast Cancer.

My father followed after her, the pain of living without her being to much to bear. I live with my Aunt, Uncle, 2 cousins, my sister, and my brother now; I bet you knew that too. My life has changed a lot in the past 4 years as perhaps so have yours. I'm happy to see all these faces old and new, but at the same time, sad. Happy that so many of you care, but sad to know Cancer has touched so many people's lives. At my middle school we had the Walk to Cure Cancer this past Monday, created by Jay Jionet from East Lyme. My math teacher, Mrs. Brockway, had made two posters. One consisting of smiles, and the other of clouds. The smiles were to have all the people you knew who had survived cancer, and the clouds were for all those who had died. I was devastated by how many names were on the clouds and how little in comparison on the smiles. I woke up at 5:30 this morning for two reasons; for the obvious reason (my mother). The other because I want more smiles then clouds. I want Cancer to be gone. Maybe it won't happen in the next few years but I want a guaranteed cancer free future for my daughters, and their daughters. I hope you help yourselves and the other millions who want to succeed this goal. Thank you.

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Closing Ceremonies Speech   - Dr. Samit Chatterjee

As a recipient of Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation's 2006 award, I would like to begin by thanking the organizers and the entire Foundation for extending to me this special invitation. It gives me immense pleasure to be face-to-face with you all who have taken up the challenge of fighting breast cancer by supporting the Foundations efforts in raising funds. I am very happy to assure you that your efforts are directly helping in ground-breaking research in understanding breast cancer at the fundamental molecular level. To understand the disease at the molecular level is, to my and my colleagues mind, critical for designing newer, better therapies. Besides, it also allows us to identify markers that have significant prognostic value.

My research career began as a cell biologist interested in understanding how cells take their unique shape and how this shape is critical for the cells to come together and give rise to tissues, especially those that form the lining of the breast, namely ducts and lobules. Pathologists have long defined different grades of breast cancer from the size of the tumor and extent of spreading in different parts of the body. However, there is another fundamental change that is observed at early as well as late stages of breast cancer progression, and that is the irregularity in the shape and architecture of the cells that constitute tumors. This aspect of breast cancer has not received the desired attention both among pathologists as well as cancer biologists.

Therefore, understanding the changes in cell-shape and tissue architecture has brought a fresh paradigm in the study of breast cancer progression. Studies from our and other labs have shown that there are molecular pathways controlled by specific genes inside cells that regulate normal cell shape and architecture. They are collectively referred to as polarity genes. Pioneering work from our lab has led to the proposal that when the normal architecture gets deregulated they then cooperate with other changes like rapid cell division (in cancer terminology, "hyper-proliferation") and bring about the disruptive behavior in breast cancer.

The Foundation's support has helped me initiate studies into these molecular pathways in great detail. In the scientific language we call it, "genetic screening of molecular pathways", which simply means identifying those genes that encode proteins that are constituents of these pathways. I have particularly geared myself to the challenge of understanding which of the polarity genes get disrupted at the advanced and malignant form of breast cancer, i.e., invasion and metastasis, or in simple terms, spreading of breast cancer cells from their site of origin to other parts of the body. In the course of my studies I have identified three polarity genes that when deregulated, promote invasion.

However, the issue is not so straight-forward because these are not simple genetic mutations and are always accompanied by changes in other pathways that regulate aspects of cancer other than cell shape. Using modern biochemical, cell-culture and microscopic tools I am progressing to not only identify the disrupted cell-shape genes but also to understand the mechanisms by which these deregulated genes cooperate with accompanying genetic changes. These are exciting times as I have begun to successfully address the mechanism of such cooperation. I cannot stress enough that these findings have the potential to serve not only as invaluable prognostic tools but will also aid in designing better therapies.

I would like to end by thanking all of you who have made it possible for researchers like us to undertake this challenging and purposeful goal.

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Marathon Story   - By Laura Fitzpatrick-Nagel

All of us know about marathons! Whether we've walked the cancer marathon journey ourselves or as a supporter of someone we love. Whether we're walking for someone today whose spirit like Terri's is here with us…or whether we're walking to honor a friend who had another chemo treatment yesterday, our footsteps mean hope all the way.

We carry the hope for each other. That's the relay gift. I'm honored to be a part of it with you.

I first learned about marathons when I was in college and ran the Boston Marathon umpteen years ago. There is a point at the 20- mile mark called Heart break Hill. It's at the top of the longest winding upward relentless road. On this particular spring day, my dad met me at the top of Heart break Hill where I nearly stopped and he jumped into the race to run with me the final six miles to the finish line and kept reminding me you can do this, you can do this... To this day, he's still cheering me on along with my mom, my husband, Paul and family and friends. They continue walking with me into this day. That's what we do for each other. That's why we're here.

My own journey began when I was 34 years old, twelve years ago. As a recurrent survivor, I try not to take life for granted. Writing for me was one of the healing steps that helped me inch my way out of the life crisis that is cancer. I discovered that there's no way to do this alone. That sharing our stories is the greatest gift we can give to one another along this journey called life.

In my book, Swimming on My Wedding Day I tell about the healing moments as well as the often terrifying ones that my husband Paul and I have taken together. He is now 8 years in remission past his diagnosis of Non Hod Lymphoma at our one year anniversary mark. And I am 7 years past my recurrence. There is no timeline for our healing. As long-term survivors we know how lucky we are. Thankfully, we can now carry the hope for others as we have been carried.

Today my team and I are privileged to be apart of this marathon of hope. Our efforts today ... walking alongside the Brodeur family will save lives. And the steps we walk today will change life for the better for someone in the future. Why else would we get up in the dark on a Saturday morning?

May we all be well with few blisters and many stories to share at the finish line. See you on the road!!!

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French Translations   - By Ashley Brodeur

I know what you all are thinking, There is no way I am walking 26.2 miles in rain. Don't worry guys, I checked two things when I got up this morning. The weather, boy are we in for a beautiful day. And my horoscope, if you're a Gemini there is no need to worry; the stars are on our side today.

My mother was an Aries, my father, a Sagittarius. I was very interested to find out what kind of zodiac bond they had. I was not at all surprised by the following statements that popped on to my computer screen; "Their common interests and similar personalities make them a very compatible couple. They are well matched in their enthusiasm, energy, and drive. They are both adventurous types with a creative, open attitude to life. On matters of the heart and mind, an Aries and a Sagittarius will be completely in tune."

People who knew my parents have to agree that this statement described my parents' relationship to a T. One comment I found especially delightful and hardly surprising was that the bond between an Aries and a Sagittarius IS the strongest zodiac bond. Period. And lastly, the remark that had the biggest effect on me personally was the one that simply read; Sagittarius with Aries, a match made in heaven.

October is a very weird month for me, some days it's extremely warm and other days it can get pretty nippy. My emotions can get as extreme as the weather. As you may or may not know my mother, Terri Brodeur, died this month three years ago on the eleventh. As you can imagine this is a very hard time in the year for our family.

On the other side of the emotional scale, there is this uplifting walk. You really have no idea the effect this walk has on you until you have crossed that finish line all the way into Camp Harkness. So many emotions go into this walk. Nervousness, what if I get swept? Anxiousness, why are these people taking so long with their speeches? Pain, why didn't I take those dorky exercises seriously? Stress, please don't let Mr. Sheehan beat me over that finish line. And then there is a sense of accomplishment, pride, purpose, and awareness.

Awareness - what a simple word for one that can have such complex meanings. There is so much to be aware of: all the people who spend their careers searching for a cure to this monster; all the people who put in long endless hours for the result you see here today; all the people who have lost their lives to this deceitful demon, and of course the effect it has on all of us here today.

Let's be honest. We have all been greatly affected by breast cancer otherwise we would not be here. Whether you're cheering, crewing or limping this event it is all greatly appreciated.

My purpose for walking today is to inspire people, motivate people actually to find a cure. Its not really a cure even, it's more like a guarantee. A guarantee, that no one has to exist with the hurt of cancer heavily weighing down their heart. I truly believe my dad actually died the day he watched his wife struggle for her last breaths. That may not be the way you view it but that is how I have chosen to view it. It is my belief that my mother and father died of breast cancer. To be short, breast cancer, any cancer really, sucks. It tears apart lives either when it kills intentionally or by default.

While I have got your attention, I would like to remind you to do self breast examinations. For instance, I will admit I do weekly checks for lumps every Sunday before my nightly shower. Most people can get away with doing monthly checks. But not me, I'm not willing to take that chance. I will not let cancer take my life…..or my admiration for all of you here today.

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Closing Ceremonies   - By Stacey Gualtieri, Treasurer

In December, 2005 my client Norma Logan called me and stated that she wanted to start a breast cancer research foundation. Norma then asked me, if I knew of anyone who specialized in nonprofits. Norma had come to the right place. After meeting with Norma and Sandy Maniscalco a couple of times, one thing became very clear to me. I did not want the foundation as a client. I wanted the foundation as a calling. So, when Norma and Sandy asked me to join the foundation as the treasurer, I was ecstatic. I would later learn that I joined a very elite group of volunteers and that I would have to work very hard to keep up.

In October 2006, in our first inaugural Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, we raised $222,000. In October 2007, in our second annual Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, we raised $285,000. Here we stand on our third annual Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut and based on the walk results from previous years and the fundraising done to date, I project that the Foundation will have raised $1,031,000 for breast cancer research by December 31st 2008.

It is interesting how the funds are raised. Over half of the money is raised after the Walk is complete. The hard work does not end here today with the Walk. Our walkers and volunteers keep working well into February of the following year to make our Walks successful. The question you might ask is "Why walk this Walk and why give to this Foundation? The answer can be found in the dream that Norma Logan had. Norma's dream was that "100% percent of all fundraising dollars would go to breast cancer research". Let me quantify that dream for you. If Norma and Sandy had continued to be as successful as they were prior to the formation of the Foundation in their fund raising efforts and had raised the $1,000,000, then administrative cost of about 40% or $400,000 of those funds would not have made it into the hands of researchers. Four doctors would not have had the resources necessary to continue in their efforts to cure breast cancer.

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Oct/Nov 2008 TBBCF Newspaper Coverage

LymeLine.com
Marathon with a Meaning
Shelley Gregory story
Oct 2nd

Harbor News and The Source
McClandish Puts the Right Touch on Life
Bob McClandish story
Oct 2nd

Middletown Press
Hearing-impaired woman to walk for breast cancer research
Maryellen Pugliese story
Oct 3rd

North Haven Courier
Indians' Volleyball Joins with Community for a Cause
"Pack the Place Pink" event. Team presented Geralyn with check for $2,600
Oct 16th

The Day
Brodeur Walk A Great Event on a Great Day
Letter to the Editor - Loretta Barber Griswold
Oct 16th

The Day
Club Sponsors Think Pink Day
Waterford HS DECA Club fundraiser
Oct 24th

The Day
Participation Nearly Triples in Breast Cancer Fundraiser
Post-Walk Summary
Oct 27th

The Day
East Lyme Students Contribute to Cancer Foundation
ELMS fundraising success $40,163
Nov 8th

Lyme Times
Anticipating ELMS fundraising success picture/story
Nov 13th

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Club Sponsors Think Pink Day   - The Day - Published on 10/24/2008

Waterford - The high school is raising awareness for breast cancer with its first-ever Think Pink Day.

The high school's DECA Club has been selling T-shirts for the event and raised more than $1,200, which the club will donate to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation.

Brodeur was a Waterford resident and a Waterford High School alumna.

"The community really came together for this," said Nicole Lourenco, a business teacher and a DECA club adviser. "I think it really hit home for a lot of people."

Students from the DECA Club will present a check to a representative from the foundation at the school's football game tonight.

As part of Think Pink Day, club members also made ribbon pins for students and are holding a basket raffle. Tonight, the Waterford High School hospitality department will sell pink chocolate chip cookies at the football game.

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Participation Nearly Triples In Breast Cancer Fundraiser   - The Day - Published on 10/27/2008

More than 400 walkers participated in the Oct. 4 walking marathon and relay from Old Saybrook to Waterford, nearly tripling past participation in the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation's annual fundraiser, the group announced.

The foundation has raised nearly $1 million since it started in 2006, the group announced. The 26.2-mile walk raises money for breast cancer research.

"We are thrilled with the response. This year we changed the format of the event to include relay teams which certainly contributed to the expansion in participation," said Sandy Maniscalco, co-founder and cxecutive director of the foundation.

The non-profit foundation donates 100 percent of the funds it receives to research. It has awarded seven research grants thus far, and with the funds raised from this year's walk expects to award at least three more $100,000 grants. The recipients will be announced in January.

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McClandish Puts the Right Touch on Life   - By Holly D'Addio, Source Sports Writer - Posted by Shore Publishing on Oct 02 2008, 11:05 AM

There are many things that Bob McClandish has done during his lifetime, but few compare to what he is about to do on Oct. 4. Bob, a resident of Madison and former Fairfield University baseball player and minor league pitcher with the Cubs, will walk the marathon distance of 26.2 miles with the Terri Brodeur Walk for Breast Cancer. The current massage therapist, who works in offices in Clinton, Madison, and Old Saybrook, plans to use his line of work to not only raise awareness for the cause, but raise money for it as well.

"I see how connected the mind and body is in my practice," says Bob. "I see how massage can help cancer patients so I felt the connection and knew I had to help with this cause."

Bob grew up in Wilton before moving to Centerbrook during his sophomore year of high school. He attended and graduated from Xavier High School in Middletown in 1979 and attended Fairfield University, playing Division I baseball for four years before graduating in 1984 with a management degree. Bob signed with the Chicago Cubs right out of college.

I lived and breathed baseball growing up," says Bob. "I played for three years and made it as far as AA as a pitcher, but the organization realized they had too many pitchers and ended up having to let me go. They told me I could go down to Florida and try out for some teams, but I decided to get a job within my field and give up my baseball career."

Bob initially helped his brother develop a computer business while still living in Arizona where he was with the Cubs, but moved back to Connecticut and began his corporate career. He worked in product development with Westpoint-Stevens for five years, then worked at the baseball commissioner's office in New York for five years licensing uniforms and anything else players wore on the field.

"That job was good for me because I had played pro baseball so I knew how things worked on the inside and it helped with getting into the business and bringing the products to market," says Bob.

After five years, Bob then took a job with Fruit of the Loom in New Hampshire producing league clothing for all sports and worked as the key contact to NFL, NHL, MLB, and NBA for a year before being recruited by Mattel in Los Angeles.

Bob moved to Connecticut again and started a design company with a few friends called Fulkrum, a brand and design development firm that was also a consultant to people in entertainment and sports. After helping to run the company for three-and-a-half years, Bob moved his family to Maine where he stayed for a year before moving back to Madison two years ago. It was then that he found his calling.

"I enrolled with the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy," says Bob. "It appealed to me, the physical body and how it moves, because I could relate to that as a former athlete. I also liked the healing aspect in massage therapy. People are looking for a lot of different approaches to health care nowadays and massage therapy has a lot to offer in that realm."

Just graduating this past August, Bob is now a licensed massage therapist at Stone Temple Institute and Sanctuary in Clinton, Sound Body Therapeutic Massage in Madison, and Better Health Massage and Body Work in Old Saybrook.

Bob, a member of the Shoreline Health and Fitness Club, saw flyers about the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Marathon Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut while working out one day and decided to participate. The walk begins at Saybrook Point in Old Saybrook and ends 26.2 miles later at Harkness Park in Waterford on Oct. 4.

"I've done a lot of elliptical training, stairs, incline walking, and rowing for one to two hours to train for this," says Bob. "Hopefully the walk won't exactly match the intensity of my workout, but I think the stamina will be similar."

Besides being a participant, Bob and his walking and massage therapy partner, Luke Maynard, are contributing $5 for each massage given through Oct. 31. He also plans to write the names of breast cancer and general cancer patients, survivors, and those lost to friends and colleagues on his arms and legs during the walk.

"Massage therapy has a lot to offer, including compassionate touch," says Bob. "Hospitals are hiring more massage therapists to spend time with their patients and that really means something. It's a very compassionate business, whether you're helping them with pain or to relax, there's no judgement and we carry those kinds of values in our work."

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LOWE Carting & Recycling Supports Breast Cancer Research   - October 2008

LOWE Carting & Recycling of New London honored breast cancer awareness month by painting one of their dumpsters pink. Each time the newly painted pink dumpster is rented in the next year, $25 will be donated directly to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation.

"As a local small business owner, it's important that our company support organizations that are so important to the community. Research and awareness are crucial to eradicating breast cancer and we are blessed that we are able to support TBBCF. They're a great organization run fully by volunteers," says Kim Lowe, co-owner of LOWE Carting & Recycling.

LOWE Carting & Recycling is a local, family- owned waste disposal company that provides dumpster rental, junk removal service and weekly residential trash pick-up.

To rent Lowe's pink dumpster contact Lowe at 442-LOWE (5693) or visit www.442lowe.com.

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TBBCF annual walk attracts over 400 walkers with fundraising efforts approaching $1 million milestone   Press Release by Shawna Constantine - October 2008

NEW LONDON, CT, OCT 5, 2008: The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation (TBBCF) is pleased to announce that the annual fundraiser, Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut, nearly tripled its participation base. On Saturday, October 4th over 400 walkers participated in the walking marathon and relay from Old Saybrook to Waterford, CT. Plus, with the tremendous fundraising efforts of this year's walkers, the total foundation fundraising dollars since 2006 is approaching $1 million.

The walk was completed by individuals walking the 26.2-mile marathon and by teams of two or five, dividing the distance between team members with each walker raising funds for breast cancer research.

"We are thrilled with the response. This year we changed the format of the event to include relay teams which certainly contributed to the expansion in participation," said Sandy Maniscalco, Co-founder and Executive Director of TBBCF.

The walk began at Saybrook Point and traveled through Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, East Lyme and Waterford, ending at Camp Harkness with a closing ceremonies celebration. The opening ceremony was led by WXLM talk show host Lee Elci and included local author and breast cancer survivor, Laura Fitzpatrick-Nagel, who penned a memoir titled Swimming on My Wedding Day. Additionally, walkers were inspired by Geralyn McPhail, sister of TBBCF founder Norma Logan, and Ashley and Melanie Brodeur, daughters of the late Terri Brodeur.

The closing ceremonies celebration included live music from local band Fat Betty and a special performance by Jill Nesi featuring her song inspired by her participation in the 2007 Walk Across Southeastern CT. The keynote speaker was a 2006 TBBCF research grant recipient, Dr. Samit Chatterjee, from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, who assured walkers and supporters that fundraising efforts are directly helping ground-breaking research in understanding breast cancer at the fundamental molecular level.

TBBCF is a local, non-profit group committed to fighting breast cancer by donating 100% of gross fundraising dollars to research. In the first two years, 2006-2007, the foundation raised $700,000, translating into seven separate research grants. With the increased response to this year's walk, the total foundation fundraising dollars since 2006 is approaching $1 million. Based on current fundraising projections for 2008, the foundation is expecting to award at least three $100,000 grants, and possibly four. The 2008 research grant recipients will be announced in January 2009.

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East Lyme students contribute to cancer foundation   The Day - Published on 11/8/2008

East Lyme - The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation on Monday accepted a check from the East Lyme Middle School students who participated in a fundraiser titled, "Finding Solutions To Cancer as We Find Solutions in Math."

The $40,163 donation was raised through a community service project led by teachers Jay Gionet and Cristina deCastro. The walk-a-thon fundraiser took place on Oct. 11, with 415 students walking 3,115 combined miles for an average of 7.5 miles per student.

Last year the students raised $17,000 in the middle school's first walk-a-thon for breast cancer research. Gionet had agreed before this year's walk that if the students raised more than $25,000, he would shave his head. During the celebration Monday, Gionet's head was shaved and styled into a mohawk.

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TBBCF is a nonprofit group dedicated to providing critical funding to researchers in search of a cure for breast cancer. Our pledge is to direct 100 percent of total gross fundraising dollars toward breast cancer research.