Giving back.

Lake Country's "Traveling Party"—Annette Rubink, Cape Coral, FL; Lynnel Anderson, Pillager, MN; Tammy Schmidt, Baxter, MN; Vicki Fober, Nisswa, MN; Beth Zahn, Nisswa, MN; Denise Friesen, Winnipeg, Canada, and Mindy Anderson, Ft. Ripley, MN.

Breast cancer has touched each of their lives in some way, and these seven women wanted to do something. They wanted to help, to give back. So they trained for six months and raised more than $17,000 to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Tampa Bay, Florida, last fall.

The memories still evoke much laughter and some tears. Their tales are touching and heartfelt. The meaning is clear—for these women, their girlfriend getaways will never be the same.

This was their first walk for Susan G. Komen but it won't be their last. “We’ll do it again,” they agree.

With Lake Country well represented, the 2008 Tampa Bay walk had 19,000 participants and raised $4.2 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Much of that money will be distributed back to local and state chapters.

For more information on breast cancer, please read the Healthcare Guide on page 50 of the January/February issue of Lake Country Journal Magazine. To find out more about the Breast Cancer 3-Day, visit the Susan G. Komen website. And if you have a story of your own, please tell us.