GloriDays: Walking 44 miles in fight against breast cancer

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 5/11/17

GloriDays 2017 is Gloria Gemma's weekend journey where participants walk 44 miles over three days or 24 miles over two days. The third GloriDays takes place June 2 to 4. For the first time, the 2017 walk will be based at Goddard

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GloriDays: Walking 44 miles in fight against breast cancer

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GloriDays 2017 is Gloria Gemma’s weekend journey where participants walk 44 miles over three days or 24 miles over two days.

The third GloriDays takes place June 2 to 4. For the first time, the 2017 walk will be based at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick. Walkers will journey from Goddard State Park through East Greenwich, Warwick and North Kingstown over the course of the multi-day walk. Participants will walk 20 miles day 1, 15 miles day 2 and 9 miles day 3.

“We are excited this year, that Goddard State Park will be our new location for GloriDays and we will be back in 2018,” said Maria Gemma, Executive Director of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

Joining in this year for the first time is Nie Bohlen of Cranston. “I am walking 44 miles in honor of my mother, Mary Jane Bohlen, a two-time breast cancer survivor whose first bout of cancer was in 1992.”

Her mother, Mary Jane, also of Cranston, is an active volunteer at Gloria Gemma where she teaches Healing Arts, volunteers on the Hope Bus, and does photography for the Foundation.

The event supports the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation in their mission to provide education and wellness programs for those touched by breast cancer in our local community.

Arthur Parise Jr. of Warwick will walk 44 miles for his third year in honor of his mother, Donna. When entering high school, his mother got the call. After her double mastectomy, she was cancer free. To celebrate, Arthur started running in the Gloria Gemma 5K and attended the Flames of Hope Celebration. Unfortunately, due to complications, his mother passed away surrounded by family and friends.

“Who am I walking for?” asked Parise. “For my mother Donna, all the other Donna’s, Ann’s, Mary Jane’s, Mandy’s, Gloria’s and all mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.”

He is hopeful that the next generation won’t have to ask, “What is breast cancer”? 

Jennie Vilella of Johnston will be walking 24 miles for the first time in honor of her Grandmother, Gloria Gemma, for which the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation was formed.

“Everyone knows someone who has been affected by breast cancer,” said Vilella “The first person I knew was my Grandmother. She fought hard but in the end, she lost her fight. This disease knows no age or no gender. It takes the lives of young and old.” 

“The commitment of our walkers and volunteers is what allows us to provide programs and resources to those in our local community touched by breast cancer,” said Gemma.

Gloria Gemma is a private nonprofit that is committed to celebrating the lives of those touched by breast cancer in the greater Rhode Island area. Located in Pawtucket, their mission is to celebrate and nurture life in our local community before, during and after a breast cancer diagnosis by providing education, access to wellness resources and support programs to all those touched by cancer.

They are the “second call” for those diagnosed and needing direction. Gloria Gemma is funded solely by the generosity of private and business donors, grants and sponsorship of fundraising events.

“Everyone knows someone touched by breast cancer, GloriDays is an opportunity for participants to honor that person,” said Gemma. “We have mothers and daughters walking together, husbands honoring wives and friends honoring friends.”

How can you get involved? Form a team and invite your professional team to join you on this multi-day journey.

All participants are asked to raise a minimum of $1,500 for Gloria Gemma.

Being part of a team is great because you can pool funds together. In other words, each team collectively only raises $1500. Ninety percent of all funds go towards Gloria Gemma’s continuing mission to provide education, wellness resources, and survivorship programs to those touched by breast cancer in our local community.

“This is a great way to benefit the lives of others and experience new friendships and connections with your local community,” said Gemma. “GloriDays is much more than a walk, it is an inspirational, intimate weekend journey.”

For more information and to join visit secure.qgiv.com/event/gloridays, www.gloriagemma.org or call the Foundation at 861-4376.

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