When Margie Shreve heard they needed help planning the Survivor Saturday for the Charlottesville Wom

By Anne Causey
Published: August 3, 2008

When Margie Shreve heard they needed help planning the Survivor Saturday for the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler Training Program, she stepped up, knowing she had found her niche.

The three-time breast cancer survivor brought enthusiasm and hope and lots of ideas for the event on Saturday at the University of Virginia Track. That day’s event is open to all breast cancer survivors, whether or not they’ve signed up for the training program or race.

Margie is one of the 70 pink ladies who volunteer as coaches/cheerleaders for the 12-week women’s training program that takes place every summer. In its 15th year, the program prepares participants to run or walk in the Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler, which takes place on Aug. 30. The race last year raised $230,000 to support the University of Virginia Cancer Center Breast Care Program.

“I’m not a seasoned runner,” Shreve said. “It’s been an amazing get-together with women of all abilities.”

Shreve was first diagnosed at age 38, about 10 years ago, when her children were young. The first time it reoccurred, Shreve happened to pick up a brochure about the program, but it was not the time to do it.

In the summer of 2000, as she was finishing another round of radiation treatments — the 39th treatment to be exact — she ran into her neighbor, Karen, who asked if she was doing the Four Miler Training program. Shreve told her she would volunteer at the race, but didn’t feel up to actually doing the running or walking needed to participate.

However, Karen wouldn’t take no for an answer. Every Tuesday and Thursday morning she drove her to the rookie runs at the track and then again on Saturday for the main program.

“We walked a lap and watched beautiful sunrises. Before I knew it, I was running a few laps. There was a mental benefit as well — I got to know her better,” Shreve said.

Shreve took a few years off after that race because of other health issues and this year in early summer she ran into Joan Esposito, the training program director, who asked her to come participate as a pink lady.

“Being a newbie, I was connected to the women who are there and are completely bald, wearing a cap,” Shreve said. “I walk with them and ask how they are doing. They are so proud of themselves that they are there, proud to be in this great community event. It’s a goal and a distraction.”

On Saturday, all breast cancer survivors are invited to walk the first lap on the track with survivors in the training program.

Patty Judy, the speaker that morning, is a survivor who was in her 20s when she was diagnosed. Judy will lead the survivor walk.

Participants should arrive at 7:45 a.m. (parking is at University Hall). There will be some “pink perks” given away, as well as pink ribbons.

The mobile mammography unit from the UVa Cancer Center’s Breast Care Program also will be there that morning, and Alison Gaucher, health educator for the Breast Care Program, said folks are welcome to walk through it. This unit travels to rural areas around the state to provide mammograms to women who might not otherwise get them.

“You don’t have to be a participant in the training program or signed up for the race,” Shreve said. “Just come.”

Shreve said organizers hope to “touch the people who have never done it.” Once they see the excitement and support, she feels they will want to do the training program next time.

“[Survivor Saturday] is a great opportunity to celebrate with other women, to come together as a group and to give other women the message of hope,” Shreve said. “We can all cross the finish line together.”

Shreve remembered a speaker from a past program compared the Four-Miler race to a woman going through the course of her cancer treatment/. The road is a little bumpy and curvy; it goes uphill and downhill. Some of the course is in the sun. When you are overheated, you hit a nice shady area where you can catch your breath.

“The ultimate goal is to cross the finish line,” Shreve said.

She finds the cause and the amount of money raised by the race to be inspiring, as are the runners wearing the names of survivors and those who have passed.

“The theme this year is enjoy the journey — that has different meanings for different runners — different for me and for you. This is clearly a risk-breaking activity for me. Everyone is doing their thing but we have a common cause,” Shreve said.

The Women’s Four Miler race takes place 8 a.m. Aug. 30 at Foxfield on Garth Road. The race filled up in a record 10 days, even though the number of registrants had increased to 2,800 women and girls. It is the largest all-women’s race in Virginia.

Esposito said that this year the training program organizers wanted to make the Survivor Saturday a bigger event, so they thought of some ways to invite all breast cancer survivors. They also joined with Althea Brooks, who is donating Avon goodie bags.

Esposito said they are encouraging participants to wear pink that day.

She said they will set out a pink piggy bank so folks can help contribute to the money being raised by the race.