A six-member team out of Rome, the Phyllis Ta Tas, will participate in the upcoming Susan G. Komen 3-Day, 60-mile walk. Team members are Kris Jackson, from left, Barbara Rees, Crista Resch, Lori Jackson West, Missy West and Teresa Resch.
Barbara Rees was diagnosed with breast cancer at 45 years old, but fought it every step of the way. Today she is a survivor and joins her friends in a walk to honor those who have battled cancer and in hopes of finding a cure.
Phyllis Fanger was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, 2011. The team, Phyllis Ta Tas, is named in her honor. She is pictured here with granddaughter Annalyn Kate Resch.
Teresa Resch, Lori Jackson West, Barbara Rees, Crista Resch, Kris Jackson and Missy West are honoring mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends by training for and participating in the upcoming Susan G. Komen Atlanta 3-Day.
Each woman comes to the team with their own story of love and courage — some bring a story of survival, with others tell of a loss. But they all have been inspired to walk by the special women in their lives.
Crista was impacted by breast cancer when her grandmother, Nola O’Malley was diagnosed with the disease in 2011.
“When my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer I felt helpless because her cancer was advanced and she passed away two months after the diagnoses,” Crista said. “Sixty miles is no easy task, but this is something I can do. Something I must do.”
Rees feels like her life was side-swiped when at 45 years old she was diagnosed with the disease. She said one of the things that helped her fight cancer was knowing her husband and four children depended on her to fight and survive.
“I am proud to say I’m a breast cancer survivor,” she said.
Crista and Barbara are joined on the team by Teresa Resch who’s mother-in-law, Phyllis Fanger as diagnosed with two types of breast cancer in 2011. Fanger had a double mastectomy, underwent chemotherapy and radiation therapy and will continue treatment through November.
“My mother-in-law is fighting to be asurvivor and I am dedicating the 60-mile walk to her,” Teresa said. “If she can fight everyday to beat cancer, I can walk 60 miles to helf find a cure.”
The women have named their team Phyllis Ta Tas in honor of Fanger.
Sisters Lori and Kris will walk in honor of their grandmother, Edna Roe Love, diagnosed in 1977 and their mother Kay Love Jackson, diagnosed in 2005. Kay underwent surgery but doctors found that the cancer had spread into almost half of her lymph nodes.
“As devastating as this may sound, our mother has been lucky enough to qualify for several medicines that were not available to our grandmother,” Lori said. “These medicines are the product of research trials and studies made possible in part by organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
The sixth teammember, Missy West, said knowing women can survive breast cancer is what motivates her to train each day to met the challenge of walking 60 miles. She has known several friends with breast cancer and is dedicating her training and her walk to them all.
The Susan G. Komen 3-Day takes place in October in Atlanta. Participants (men and women) will raise a minimum of $2,300 and walk an average of 20 miles each day for three consecutive days. Funds raised impact breast cancer research and community-based breast health and education programs.
To find out more about the event and how you can participate, visit online at www.The3Day.org.
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