The Boobies Head to Boston

Months of hard work, training, and fundraising will culminate this week when the Blue-Footed Boobies head to Boston for the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. 

Over the course of three days, the 13 Boobies will walk 60 miles, all in support of breast cancer research and community programs.

During the past eight months, the team – made up of NMH faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and two grandmothers – have logged a collective 5,000 miles (wearing out four pairs of running shoes each) in training for the Komen 3-Day.  (See below for more BFB fast facts.)

“The team is more than ready,” wrote team founder and captain Elizabeth Gardner P’13 in an email. “Just last weekend, seven on the team enjoyed a wonderful 18-mile training walk through a mostly gentle rain.”

Gardner, who has spent 15 years at NMH with husband Jim Poulsen, created the BFB team in 2009. She said watching a televised version of the Boston Marathon while in the midst of breast cancer treatments inspired her to “do something.” Gardner was joined for her first 3-Day event by her mother, Damon Reed, and friends Angie Murphy, Ursula Naldony, and Jeanne Rees. The five women raised over $25,000 for their walk.

The 2010 Boobies are Gardner P’13, Marggie Slichter '84, P'10, P'11,P'12, Jeanne Rees P’91, P’99, Barb Watson P’96, Cindy Harris P’02, Meg Donnelly P’97, Rachel Jackson, Gretel Schatz, Damon Reed GP ‘13, Dara Simmons, Mike Miller, Carlos Diaz, and Gail Doolittle. Gardner said that each one of the Boobies this year had been touched by cancer in a personal way. The group decided to train in recognition of the many women in the NMH community who have struggled with the disease.

Through events such as gourmet dinners, wine tastings, and henna tattoo nights, the Boobies surpassed earlier goals to raise over $45,000 this year.

“We are proud to be one of the top fundraising teams of the Boston event, and grateful for the incredible support we have received from the extended NMH community,” wrote Gardner.

NMH community members have donated energy performance products, held yoga classes, decorated rain ponchos with the Boobies’ logo, provided refreshments, and opened their homes (and bathrooms) to the team. While most of the Boobies have trained locally, Miller, Diaz, and Simmons have been preparing for the 3-Day in Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta, respectively. Gardner said the team has been communicating through email and Facebook.

“The Southern Boobies have been training solo for the most part, which requires a different kind of grit, determination, and commitment,” wrote Gardner. “There's a lot of devotion to each other and to the cause—and support for one another.”

The “flock” plans to continue its efforts and is hoping to exceed this year’s totals in 2011. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Gardner at 413-522-2086 or zilrendrag@yahoo.com.

As for Gardner, she vows to keep walking “until there is a cure.