Friday, October 30, 2026
For Connolly Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Susan Bouza, the school’s annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-a-Thon is personal.
Five years ago, Bouza was diagnosed with breast cancer, beginning months of treatment that required her to balance teaching with radiation appointments. Her mother, Elizabeth Bouza, a retired Glen Cove school district teacher, had already survived breast cancer and would later face a second diagnosis.
On Oct. 23, Bouza shared her experience with students before they took to the streets surrounding Connolly Elementary School for its 14th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk-a-Thon. The event raised a record $1,691 for organizations supporting cancer patients, research and early detection.
Bouza recalled receiving her diagnosis during the final week of school, just as she was preparing for summer vacation. When she returned to teaching, she needed to leave work early each day for radiation treatments.
“If it wasn’t for the support that I had from my staff, from the district itself,” Bouza said, describing how colleagues helped her through treatment.
Her mother’s experience also played a role in her diagnosis. Because Elizabeth had previously battled breast cancer, Bouza’s gynecologist recommended additional screenings, including an MRI that detected her cancer at an early stage.
“I was one of the lucky ones,” Bouza said.
Elizabeth underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation following her first diagnosis. When the cancer returned approximately a decade later, she underwent a mastectomy and began hormone therapy.
For Bouza, the walk-a-thon was an opportunity to teach students about compassion and the importance of supporting people facing difficult circumstances.
“Students don’t realize what other kids are going through or what other adults are going through,” she said. “It’s not so much about the breast cancer, it’s about the kindness.”
Two fifth-graders, Isabella Martens and Madelyn Rios, both 10, decided to contribute to the cause by organizing their own fundraiser.
Martens, inspired by students who had raised money in previous years, recruited Rios to help make and sell handmade scrunchies and wristbands. The girls distributed flyers to classrooms and received orders from students throughout the school, ultimately raising more than $500.
“I was thinking since other years some kids would do stuff to try to raise money, I was thinking I could do something like that too,” Martens said.
Rios said she wanted to participate because she knew people who had been affected by cancer, including a neighbor who survived and someone connected to a former teacher who died from the disease.
“I’ve been really caring about breast cancer and seeing all these, like a bunch of stories,” Madelyn said.
Martens said the response from classmates exceeded her expectations.
“It felt really good to want to help people,” she said. “I’m really glad that we were able to do this.”
Principal Farrah Feygis said the annual event teaches students that even small contributions can help people in need.
“A small step is a big win,” Feygis said. “We kids can make a difference, and we are as a community.”
Organized by the Connolly Student Council under advisers Susan Stanco and Nancy Gorman, the walk brought students and faculty through neighborhood streets with escorts from the Glen Cove Police and Fire departments.
Proceeds will benefit Glen Cove Cares, the American Cancer Society and Katz Women’s Center. National Junior Honor Society students at the district’s middle school also participated in fundraising efforts, selling pink lemonade and bracelets.
