Sunday, October 10th marks the third year, Middleburg's Cherry Blossom Breast Cancer Foundation has organized public walks to raise funds to help Fauquier and Loudoun women fight breast cancer. Each subsequent event has been more successful and this year the walkers in Leesburg, Middleburg and Warrenton hope to raise $300,000 and attract 2,000 participants.

Establish in 2007 two wonderful women, Nanette White and Cheryl Clayton Atkins, whose nickname was 'Cherry Blossom,' the annual event generates revenue to provide breast cancer grants to Fauquier Hospital, Inova Hospital, Loudoun Community Health Center, Breast Cancer Network of Strength and the Lombardi Cancer Center.

With Cherry Blossom funding and the help of Inova Loudoun Hospital, Loudoun Community Health Center has scheduled more than 430 mammograms for its patients.

Dedicated to directly helping the women of Fauquier and Loudoun, the Foundation has made 80 per cent of its grants in these counties. The other 20 per cent has funded a Georgetown University research study.

The Foundation's leaders decided last year to conduct the three simultaneous events to expand its fundraising across two counties so local citizens could participate and ensure better care of their family and friends. Rather than sending the money out of the area, the Foundation provides local benefits, in contrast to national breast cancer organizations.

"With hundreds of our Leesburg, Middleburg and Warrenton friends and family experiencing the anguish of breast cancer" said Vice Chairman Mary Jo Jackson, "we wanted to significantly increase the detection and treatment capabilities of local breast cancer service providers for our girls and women."

"In the last couple of months," a Cherry Blossom leader said, "we helped three women who called for financial assistance with mammograms; one said she was nineteen with no insurance, one spoke very limited English, and one said she had just lost her job and had no insurance."

In early September, one woman from Sterling wrote to the Foundation, "I live to write this letter because you so generously paid for my mammogram. It is because of you that I now experience a cancer-free life."

In all four situations, the Foundation's relationship with Loudoun Community Health Center and Inova Loudoun Hospital resulted in quick appointments and financial assistance. Expansion of local detection and treatment of breast cancer, education of local women on the need for early and regular screenings, and the funding of regional research are the Foundation's goals.

"We post all recipients of our grants on our website, www.cherryblossombreastcancerfoundation.org, " said James Atkins, Board Chair, "we publicly announce them, and we conduct meetings of our 45 member Advisory Board twice a year to elicit suggestions and comments. Local input is greatly encouraged and appreciated."

The three October 10th events during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month are family affairs with easy two-mile walks and three-mile runs at Leesburg's Morven Park Equestrian Center; in Middleburg at the parking lot of the Post Office and the Middleburg Bank; and in historic Warrenton at the Warrenton Branch Greenway. All begin at 1 pm.

Please register on the website, by mail to Box 1051, Middleburg, 20118, by calling 540.422.6139, or by visiting local businesses, including Grand Sponsor, Middleburg Bank.