by Anthony Rifilato
Vierengel, a mother of three, was walking with a cluster of her fellow Plaza Elementary School mothers around the school's baseball field last Thursday night as their kids rode their bikes, played in the park and made new friends.
Despite the heat lately, they have been doing this since June. Three nights a week, 10 or more mothers can be seen taking laps around the field, some wheeling their children in strollers, others moving at a fast pace as they listen to their iPods.
Conversations range from PTA fund-raisers to their children's futures. But what may seem like a group of moms simply getting together and walking can be deceiving. Vierengel and her team of mothers are in training, and walking for a noble cause: to raise money to fight breast cancer.
"Long Island, and Nassau County in particular, has the highest rate of breast cancer in the country," said Vierengel, who has two friends, both in their mid- to late 30s, who are fighting the disease. "I think everyone kind of knows someone who has breast cancer."
Vierengel and some of the other mothers are training at Plaza for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York City in October. The Avon Walk is a two-day event in which participants can walk a 26.2-mile marathon or a rigorous 39.3-mile distance over a Saturday and Sunday.
Vierengel, a direct marketing professional in Manhattan, said that she felt compelled to get involved after learning about the walk during a class she was taking in the city. She wanted to do the walk as a community project, and also as a way to get involved in a good cause. "To rally behind a cause like this is amazing," Vierengel said as she pushed her 2-year-old daughter, Elena, in her stroller. "I am intrigued by Nassau County having one of the highest rates in the country. What's that about?"
Vierengel's team calls itself "In the Pink," which is the color of solidarity when raising awareness about breast cancer, she said. The team is working to raise money for the Avon Walk, since, in order to participate, each team member must commit to raising $1,800, which Vierengel said is going to be a real challenge. While a team can consist of as few as two people, Vierengel said she is trying to get as many participants as she can to walk the 39.3-mile distance.
While they are helping with fund-raising efforts, not all of the parents who come to the training walks will take part in October, but Vierengel said she is confident that she will have a nice team assembled by then, and she is hoping more people will volunteer. "We're hoping to have closer to 10 people - that's the plan," she said. "We kind of feel like it's a team of fund-raisers and walkers. They're all part of our team."
Funds raised by participants are disbursed by the Avon Foundation, and are awarded to local, regional and national breast cancer organizations. Last month, the Avon Walk in San Francisco raised over $5.4 million.
The volunteer-led training walks, like the one in Baldwin, are held throughout the region and are meant to add fun and fitness as a lead-up to the event. Vierengel said her team's mission is two-pronged: to helping women fight breast cancer while getting and staying fit in the process. "By us walking and participating we keep ourselves healthy," she said.
When Vierengel told her fellow Plaza moms about her intentions, they were more than supportive, she said. The walks around the school have not only been a way to raise awareness about breast cancer, but a way to make new friends, form new relationships and even get out of the house with the kids. "The reality is, you're with the kids at night," said parent Maureen Brady. "They really look forward to coming out."
Brady said that she came out to train to support her friend, something she said is inspiring. "It's for a very good cause," she said. "As a woman living on Long Island, [breast cancer] has an impact. It's the biggest thing, the biggest worry."
As the moms made the rounds, parent Leigh Latimer, who will be walking with Vierengel in October, said she is confident they will be able to raise money in time for the event. "I'm assuming people will be generous, but it is somewhat intimidating," said Latimer. "But Valerie is very confident."
Latimer, who lost a close friend to breast cancer after a nine-year battle, said that she has seen how the disease can be devastating for friends and families. "I still miss her," Latimer said. "It's such a painful experience to go through."
Others speak of the new friends they have made. Parent Megan Asuncion said she has become close with Plaza mother Glynis Zito during the training walks, and her daughter, 7-year-old Olivia, even learned to ride her bike in the process. "We get together to socialize, so we're taking it to another level," Asuncion said. "It's fun and it's nice seeing everyone. The kids enjoy it a lot."
Vierengel and the other parents are planning fund-raisers in the coming months such as a tag sale, among other initiatives. They are also trying to reach out to local businesses and restaurants for their support.
"It's for an excellent cause," said Glynis Zito. "I hope that people will just come down and support us."
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