Maine Cancer Foundation

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David Arenstam, Bangor Daily News

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Published Date

Mon, 02/19/2018 - 12:00

Summary

This is one student’s story about her teacher, a keynote speaker at the 2016 Mary’s Walk and Kerrymen 5K, and the husband of a cance

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If you’ve read any of my recent stories, you no doubt have seen me write about Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen 5K road race. Both events are near and dear to me and in an important and significant way, they have helped a community and a number of families heal.

What follows is one student’s story about her teacher, a keynote speaker at the 2016 Mary’s Walk and Kerrymen 5K, and the husband of a cancer survivor. I think she captures the essence of the event and quintessential nature of what it means to be a teacher.

By Arianna Libby

SACO – Mary’s Walk, a community-based event focused on raising money to help with the fight against cancer in Maine, has been held for the past 20 years on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. The combined events, a 5K road race and a 2.25-mile walk, honor the life and memory of Mary Kerry Libby, a Saco mother of three who died in 1999 after a prolonged battle with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. Libby might have lost her battle with cancer, but she left a legacy that has endured for two decades and shows no sign of abating.

Each year, the organizing committee for the walk and the run try to find someone from the community who will be able to speak about the impact this event has had on their lives. Eric Marston, a history teacher at Thornton Academy, was asked to speak in 2016 and talk about the battle his wife, Nancy, had endured. Nancy was diagnosed in December 2014 with breast cancer, and after being confronted with an eerily similar set of circumstances, she and her family were determined to find a positive outcome.

Marston, a teacher who is known for his quick wit and steady sense of humor, never thought that their lives would change in this way, but together, the family learned how to fight in the “face of adversity”.

During his speech to the assembled runners and walkers, Marston discussed the importance of staying upbeat, optimistic, and fighting challenges head-on.

“When she lost her hair she used to say, this is great, I get to put on my wig instead of spending time fixing my hair,” Marston said and laughed as he recalled the conversation.

The Marston family has participated in this event from the beginning, walking and raising money for the Maine Cancer Foundation. Once the family was forced to focus on Nancy’s breast cancer, the event became more than just a walk; more than just a community event; it was about helping to find a cure. This event now symbolizes hope for the Marston family and for the ever-increasing number of others who are faced with similar diagnoses.

When Marston thinks of Mary’s Walk, he thinks of the city that he has always called home. Marston said, “when there is a need in this community, everyone helps.”

Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen 5K have been winding their way through the streets of downtown Saco for the past 20 years, and Marston truly believes that his hometown and his school, Thornton Academy, have had a “tremendous impact” on cancer research.

“It can be as little as a gas card to get a patient to a treatment facility or as big as funding the research for a cure, there is no amount too small,” he said. “Every gesture helps. Every dollar raised helps.”

Now entering its third decade as a privately organized fund-raising event, Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen 5K have raised more than $3 million for the Maine Cancer Foundation.

“We have had to have made an impact in one way or another,” Marston said.

Mary’s Walk is one of the longest-running private charities supported all by volunteers, and Marston hopes this event continues to “grow and expand” the knowledge of cancer research and to “inspire and ignite” others to unite together in the fight against cancer.

“One day, together, maybe we can save all of the lives now lost to this horrible disease,” Marston said during his 2016 speech.

“This disease does not discriminate – we all know someone who has suffered through this,” he said. “Cancer does not define who you are – you do. Ultimately, we will win because of Mary’s Walk, because of the Maine Cancer Foundation, [and] because of the positive influences.”

20 years of hope, healing, and a dream for a better future

maryswalkadmin — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 17:28:11 +0000

20 years of hope, healing, and a dream for a better future maryswalkadmin Fri, 07/13/2018 - 13:28

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Credits

David Arenstam, Bangor Daily News

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Published Date

Thu, 02/08/2018 - 12:00

Summary

For the past two decades, a small number of people have met regularly in Saco to plan a charity walk and run to commemorate the life of M

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SACO – For the past two decades, a small number of people have met regularly in Saco to plan a charity walk and run to commemorate the life of Mary Kerry Libby. Together they have created Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen 5K road race and along the way, they changed the springtime landscape of their hometown.

As a combined entity, the walk and the run are one of the largest community-based charity events in the state, an event designed to raise money in order to help in the fight against cancer, Now it is also one of the of the longest running events.

Gene Libby, Mary’s husband, remembers the ideas and hopes that fueled the creation of the walk and the run in 1999. For Libby, when he thinks about what this small group of dedicated volunteers has accomplished together, it almost seems impossible.

“We’ve raised more than $3 million in the 20 years that we have been doing this,” Libby said recently and paused for a moment as he considered what he had just described. “In the beginning, we wanted to make a difference for the people of Maine and those who might be faced with the same issues my family face.”

Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen 5K takes place on the first Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. For many runners and people who live in the area and wish to participate, the two events represent the beginning of Spring, a season of hope and renewal. That sentiment is not lost on Libby or the other board members who work for months to help organize the two events.

This year the walk and the run will take place on Sunday, March 18 and as has become the custom, there will be a guest speaker at Thornton Academy, the staging and registration area for both events. This year, the speaker will be Ken Janson, a Thornton Academy Trustee, a Mary’s Walk Board Member, and now, a cancer survivor. His job that day will be to try to convey to the participants how grateful and appreciative he and the other board members are for their continued support and help.

“In November of 2016, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer,” Janson said in a voice that often reflects the months of treatments and medical procedures he’s endured. “We always talked about how important this event was to people, to their families, but now it has taken on a whole new meaning for me.”

Last year, Ken and Laurie Janson (also a board member and a longtime event volunteer) started a team in Ken’s name. They spread the word to family, friends, and business associates and before they knew it, they had raised nearly $10,000 for the Maine Cancer Foundation, the recipient of the funds raised during Mary’s Walk weekend.

Unfortunately, Janson is not the only board member to have been afflicted during the past 20 years. Tony LeBlanc, the treasurer for the group, was diagnosed with salivary gland cancer, and like Mary Kerry Libby, he faced this disease with his family.

“As a cancer survivor myself, this event means a great deal to me,” LeBlanc said. “I feel as though I am here, in part, because of the fundraising and research in the cancer field prior to my diagnosis. I feel an obligation to somehow stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and play my small part in continuing the work.”

On the day of the event, LeBlanc is certainly not alone. There are usually 150-175 students from Thornton Academy who assemble in the Linnell Gymnasium and provide support for the runners, walkers, and the staff working during the event. What may make this year’s event even more special is that Mary’s granddaughter, a junior at Thornton Academy, will be among the volunteers.

“Since day one there has always been a waiting list of kids looking to volunteer and help,” said Teri Arenstam, a Thornton Academy science teacher and the volunteer coordinator for the event.

It is not unusual to see the students completely fill a section of the bleachers in the school’s gymnasium as they get ready to take to the streets and help monitor the route.

The list of volunteers is long and many of the those who help with the event have done so for a number of years. This year, as in years past, that will also include Rene Menard, the headmaster of Thornton Academy.

“We often speak to students about the importance of giving back to their community and we are pleased to have hundreds of student volunteers helping with the event each year. Our faculty and staff have been tremendous supporters of the event as well. They are the ones who rally the student volunteers. They are the ones who model the importance of volunteerism and inspire our students to get involved,” he said.

On the day of the event, the streets surrounding the school are filled with runners, walkers, and people pushing strollers filled with young children. The city’s police and public works department come out in force to lend a hand and the one common denominator for these thousands of people seems to be the smile that appears on their face when they connect with so many of their friends and neighbors.

“Seeing the thousands of participants and volunteers who gather on our campus each spring is powerful,” Menard said. “It gives hope to all of us who have been impacted by cancer and we are grateful to be a small part of this remarkable event.”

After the last runner and walker have headed home for the day, the board members will work with the city to clean the route and make sure the equipment and material from the event are safely stored away for the next year. Each person is tired but tired in a way that lifts their spirits as they think about what they have accomplished.

The event has now been held for 20 years and no one really knows how long it will go on, but each person on the organizing committee seems determined, for their own reasons, to make a difference.

“I hope that someday we will no longer need to hold the event,” Tony LeBlanc said. With a small knowing smile, he adds, “that would mean a cure has been found. We’ve done our job.”

Via Bangor Daily News

Making a Difference: 'Mary's Walk' celebrates 20th anniversary

maryswalkadmin — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 17:05:18 +0000

Making a Difference: 'Mary's Walk' celebrates 20th anniversary maryswalkadmin Fri, 07/13/2018 - 13:05

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Kim Block, WGME

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Published Date

Tue, 01/23/2018 - 12:00

Summary

"Mary's Walk" is celebrating 20 years this March - raising more than three million dollars for the Maine Cancer Foundation.

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SACO (WGME) -- It's a big year for an annual event that has raised millions of dollars in the fight against cancer in Maine. "Mary's Walk" is celebrating 20 years this March - raising more than three million dollars for the Maine Cancer Foundation.

"We wanted to make a difference for the people of Maine," Gene Libby, "Mary's Walk" founder said.

The event was started after Libby's wife Mary Kerry Libby died of Burkett's Lymphoma in March, 1997. She used to walk a loop in downtown Saco - which is now the route of "Mary's Walk."

The walk and 5k start at Thornton Academy.

"Since day one, there has never been a year when I haven't had a waiting list of kids that want to work at "Mary's Walk," Teri Arenstam, Thornton Academy chemistry teacher said.

Students volunteer at the event, and so do people like Ken Janson. In November of 2016, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

"We always knew how important the fundraising part of it was, but now being thrust into that role, it took on a whole new meaning," Janson said.

The event draws more than 3,000 walkers and runners every years.

Organizers say they hope to raise the most money ever for the 20th anniversary of the event.

"It's kind of a happening and we're very proud of what we've accomplished," Libby said.

"Mary's Walk" is Sunday, March 18th, 2018.

Via WGME

Walking the walk

maryswalkadmin — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:54:31 +0000

Walking the walk maryswalkadmin Fri, 07/13/2018 - 12:54

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Event Coverage

Credits

Liz Gotthelf | Journal Tribune

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Published Date

Mon, 03/19/2018 - 12:00

Summary

Since its inception, Mary’s Walk has raised more than $3 million for the Maine Cancer Society, which funds research and programs in the

Body

SACO — Despite the cold weather, a few thousand people came out Sunday to participate in the 20th Annual Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen Pub 5K to raise money for the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Mary’s Walk founder Gene Libby attributed it to “Mary’s magic.”

Libby’s late wife, Mary Kerry Libby, died from Burkitt’s Lymphoma in 1997. Mary’s Walk pays tribute to Mary, a beloved member of the community.

“Mary was a simple person who radiated warmth and genuineness to those she met. You always knew that you had her attention and you had her affection,” said Libby at a ceremony held at Thornton Academy’s Linnell Gym, held before the 12:15 p.m. start of the walk, which began at the school. The Kerrymen Pub 5K race took off at noon at the Kerrymen Pub.

Since its inception, Mary’s Walk has raised more than $3 million for the Maine Cancer Society, which funds research and programs in the state of Maine. Sunday’s event raised more than $270,000.

“It’s amazing,” said Maine Cancer Foundation Executive Director Tara Hill. She said the event was unique, even after all these years, it continues to draw a huge amount of community support and enthusiasm.

“Many families including my own owe a lot to the planning, development and execution of fundraising events and Mary’s Walk is the gold standard for those events,” said Saco Mayor Marston Lovell.

District 31 State Senator Justin Chenette, D-Saco, representing Hollis, Limington, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and part of Buxton, presented Libby with a legislative sentiment.

“Every year like clock-work, there is an event that unites us. It brings people of all walks of life literally together for something much bigger than ourselves individually; a true collective conscious,” said Chenette.

Long-time Mary’s Walk committee member Ken Janson spoke about his journey with esophageal cancer. He said as part of his recovery and to maintain health, he began a daily routine of walking. He said as he started his daily walks, he thought of Mary Kerry Libby, who also was an avid walker, and he thought of Mary’s Walk.

“Let’s go for a walk today, and again tomorrow, and the day after,” he said.

He urged people to continue the practice of walking, and to wear their Mary’s Walk shirts while doing so.

Via Journal Tribune

Road race takes off from Maine pub, helps raise $270K for cancer foundation

maryswalkadmin — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:42:02 +0000

Road race takes off from Maine pub, helps raise $270K for cancer foundation maryswalkadmin Fri, 07/13/2018 - 12:42

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Event Coverage

Credits

Liz Gotthelf | Journal Tribune

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Published Date

Mon, 03/19/2018 - 12:00

Summary

Despite the cold weather, a few thousand people came out Sunday to participate in the 20th Annual Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen Pub 5K t

Body

SACO, Maine — Despite the cold weather, a few thousand people came out Sunday to participate in the 20th Annual Mary’s Walk and the Kerrymen Pub 5K to raise money for the Maine Cancer Foundation.

Mary’s Walk founder Gene Libby attributed it to “Mary’s magic.”

Libby’s late wife, Mary Kerry Libby, died from Burkitt’s Lymphoma in 1997. Mary’s Walk pays tribute to Mary, a beloved member of the community.

Since its inception, Mary’s Walk has raised more than $3 million for the Maine Cancer Society, which funds research and programs in the state of Maine. Sunday’s event raised more than $270,000.

District 31 State Senator Justin Chenette, D-Saco, representing Hollis, Limington, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, and part of Buxton, presented Libby with a legislative sentiment.

“Let’s go for a walk today, and again tomorrow, and the day after,” he said.

He urged people to continue the practice of walking, and to wear their Mary’s Walk shirts while doing so.

via Bangor Daily News

More than $270,000 for Maine Cancer Foundation

maryswalkadmin — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:30:56 +0000

More than $270,000 for Maine Cancer Foundation maryswalkadmin Fri, 07/13/2018 - 12:30

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