By Alison Rooney
Ashley Haines, a junior at Haldane High School, is the organizer of Get Your Pink On, a fundraising walk that will take place on Sunday, Oct. 22, at the school to raise money for breast-cancer research.
Ashley Haines (Photo by A. Rooney)
Why did you organize this event?
In March, my mom [Lauren Haines] was diagnosed with breast cancer. I knew she would fight. She said “I want it out, now!” and had a double mastectomy and is a survivor. She competed in the Avon 39 in New York City [in which participants walk 39.3 miles over two days to raise money for breast-cancer research], so I thought, why can’t we have something like that in Cold Spring?
Your mom was an All-American runner at Villanova. Is this a running event?
No, it’s completely at your own pace. Walk as much as you feel like you can, for as long as you feel like you can. We’ll have water and food, and there will be music and rewards. All the funds raised will go to Breastcancer.org.
Was it more work than you thought it would be?
Definitely. I brought the idea to Ms. Sniffen [the high school principal] and Mr. Salumn [the athletic director], and they were supportive. Then the tennis team and the Blue Devil Booster Club got involved. We used suggestions from Breastcancer.org to get it organized. I had a lot of help from my volunteer committee, and the sponsors have been amazing.
How can people sign up?
Visit csbcwalk.weebly.com. After you sign up, collect pledges. You can also sign up to be a volunteer on the walk day.
How does your mom feel about all of this?
She’s thrilled! My grandma is coming up from Long Island to walk, too.
Well done, Ashley Haines!