The sounds of singing and laughter and the pitter patter of feet could be heard throughout south eastern Michigan July 15-17 when more than 1700 women took to the streets for the Michigan Breast Cancer 3Day.
The grueling three day 60’mile walk is for breast cancer awareness with more than 85 percent of the proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, in Dallas, Texas.
Many Clarkston women walked the walk, talked the talk, a listened to their Nikes.
‘My Nikes said just do it so we just did it,? said Pam Macksey, 46, owner of Macksey Interior Design.
Macksey walked with coworkers Stefanie Maas, 18, and Joy Ballard, 39, all of Clarkston. They called themselves team Macksey Interior Design.
The three became involved after Maas heard an advertisement on the radio and decided she would walk for her mom. She asked Macksey for a donation.
‘I said no, we’ll do it as a team,? said Macksey.
The three laugh as they reminisce about the walk, the singing the joy and the laughter. Their inspiration came from Maas? mother Jeanette Maas who past away from breast cancer in 1994. The shirts pictured ‘Stefanie’s angle,? her mother.
‘I think what got us through it was our humor,? said Ballard, ?
‘It was grueling and it was hot, the route went through Pontiac and there wasn’t any tree’s. It was hot,? said Ballard.
Macksey said that ice became like gold. They would wrap the ice in bandanas and drape it over their necks. When Ballard dropped the ice out one end they all laughingly scrambled after it.
‘We had such a good time because we stopped at so many other places,? said Ballard. The trio would wander off the beaten path to the nearest gas station or fast food restaurant and buy something so they could use the bathroom.
‘The lines to the port-a-potties were a mile long,? said Ballard.

Walkers would walk up to 20-miles a day and then camp as a group at night. The 3Day organizers and volunteers gave those who walked food, water, and provided restrooms.
Macksey said they were so well fed she gained weight.
Cheering stations were set up at locations along the walk for spectators and survivors who did not walk to participate with encouragement.
Homeowners along the route left sprinklers on to cool walkers and on Sunday Popsicles were passed out.
The walk was stopped because of lightneing on Saturday. ‘Sweeps vans? picked up walkers and took them to nearby schools until the rain stopped.
Macksey said the rain was coming down in sheets, but they just kept going until they were forced to stop.
Christine Keener of Waterford found out about the 3Day an inner office email. She said she decided to walk because of her grandmother who was a survivor.
‘Breast cancer can hit anyone, men and women, said Keener. She walked with friends from Waterford, but got separated and walked with another Waterford women through the rest of the event.
Each walker is required to raise $2,100. The proceeds go to the Kotmen Foundation and is the nations largest private funder of breast cancer research and community outreach.
There are many ways to fund-raise. Keener said her biggest donators and support came from her office. She was asked daily about her progress in donations and training.
‘Sometimes they would walk with me,? said Keener.
One of the many fundraisers for the Macksey’s group was selling advertisement for the front of their shirts worn on the walk.
‘I even sold an ad on a chair lift at Boyne,? said Macksey. ‘I would tell people, your logo will go on three sets of breasts for three days.? The cost of the three day ad was $500, four companies advertise.
Team Devine from Devine Cafe? had four participants. Nan Manos, 41, said that they are still short $650 for the required $2,100 and are still taking donation.
Although it was grueling, despite road rash, (little red bumps on their calfs due to heat), the heat, they all agree it was worth it.
‘I would do it again,? said Macksey.
‘I would do it again,? said Ballard.
‘Yea, I would do it again,? said Maas.
To help Team Devine achive their goal call: 248-803-6802 or online at www.the3day.org.