2020 Walk Award and Contest Winners

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We are excited to announce the winners of our 2020 Support-A-Walk Awards and Contests. Individuals and teams across the country participated in our Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer on October 4, 2020, exemplifying our theme “Walk With Us, Wherever You Are.”

Our Spirit Awards are given to recognize those who raise funds. Based on fundraising done before the day of the Walk, there are awards for Teams that raised the most funds, Teams with the most donors, and Individuals without a team who raised the most funds.

We also held contests for Team Banners or Signs, and T-shirts. We were thrilled to receive so many photos from participants who created signs or t-shirts to show why they walk.

Please scroll down to see all of our winners and their reasons for walking! You can also view photos of the beautiful banners/signs and t-shirts in our Facebook album at this link.

2020 Support-A-Walk: Spirit Award Winners

In each category below, we have listed our first, second and third place winners, based on funds raised before the day of the Walk.

Teams that raised the most funds:

  1. Lillian’s Girls (Team Captain: Samantha Berg)
  2. In Memory of Elizabeth Chaparro (Team Captain: Sarah Pace)
  3. Emerald Angels (Team Captain: Geri Moran)

Teams with the most donors:

  1. Lillian’s Girls (Team Captain: Samantha Berg)
  2. In Memory of Elizabeth Chaparro (Team Captain: Sarah Pace)
  3. Christine DiGiovanni’s Team (Team Captain: Christine DiGiovanni)

Individuals without a team who raised the most funds:

  1. Sue Andersen
  2. Marlene Stager
  3. Robin Perlmutter

2020 Support-Walk: Team Banner or Sign Contest Winners

First Place Banner: Mahopac Walkers (Team Captain: Mildred Marshall) The Mahopac Walkers have been walking in the Support-A-Walk for 5 years. They walk for family and friends who have had cancer.

Mahopac Walkers

Second Place Banner: Team Jackie O (Team Captain: Jacqueline Davis) When Jacqueline Davis was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer she was devastated. She reached out to each person in her life and was met with wonderful love and support. During her treatments Jacqueline attended Support Connection’s Support-A-Walk and learned about counseling services. The counselor gave her so much encouragement that Jacqueline says, “I feel as though I don’t have cancer anymore.” Jacqueline hopes to raise funds for more clinical research can be done on ovarian cancer to find a cure.

Team Jackie O

Third Place Banner: Yorktown Warriors (Team Captain: Virginia Hardman) This is the Yorktown Warriors first year as a team for the Support-A-Walk. They walked to honor and remember women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Yorktown Warriors

Honorable mention banners/signs:

Lucia’s Love (Team Captain: Nora Ohlmann) This is Lucia’s Love 10th year participating in our Support-A-Walk. They walk to honor Lucy, a breast cancer survivor. Lucia’s Love applauds Lucy’s strength and bravery, and celebrates her and all cancer survivors.

Lucia’s Love

Sister, Sister (Team Captain: JoAnn Johnson) Sister Sister has walked in the Support-A-Walk for the past 14 years. Sister Sister was originally Peggy’s Angels, but in 2009 they changed their name to Sister Sister to support Peggy’s sister Carol. They walk in several states to honor and remember family and friends both near and far.

Sister Sister

2020 Support-Walk: T-Shirt Contest Winners

We had so many wonderful t-shirt designs, there were too many to share here! Click here to see all of the beautiful photos in our Facebook album.

In each category below, we have listed our first, second and third place winners:

Most original t-shirt awards:

  1. Mom Squad (Team Captain: Maryrose Gummerson) MomSquad walks in memory of their friend Liz. Team members said Liz was great friend who was always there for her family and friends. It is their honor to remember her and raise money for Support Connection in her name.
  2. Sister, Sister (Team Captain: JoAnn Johnson) Sister Sister has walked in the Support-A-Walk for the past 14 years. Sister Sister was originally Peggy’s Angels, but in 2009 they changed their name to Sister Sister to support Peggy’s sister Carol. They walk in several states to honor and remember family and friends both near and far.
  3. Lucia’s Love (Team Captain: Nora Ohlmann) This is Lucia’s Love 10th year participating in our Support-A-Walk. They walk to honor Lucy, a breast cancer survivor. Lucia’s Love applauds Lucy’s strength and bravery, and celebrates her and all cancer survivors.

Most creative t-shirt awards:

  1. Team Julie (Team Captain: Wendy Giuliano) Team Julie walks in loving memory of Julie Haney who died after battling ovarian cancer for several years. Julie loved all that Support Connection had to offer: the loving, empathetic support helped her and her family and friends through the best and worst of times. Julie’s incredible spirit of hope touched so many lives. Her impact was so strong that Support Connection named an award in her loving memory: the Julie Haney Spirit of Hope Award. Team Julie walked in several states this year, continuing to send the message of  hope to people with breast and ovarian cancer and raise money for our support services.
  2. Jen’s Rack Pack (Team Captain: Jennifer Ponzini) Jennifer learned of Support Connection years ago when she helped design Walk brochures and other printed materials. She did not know that one day she too would be a cancer survivor. Her team is raising money this year to support all the incredible work Support Connection does.
  3. Friends of Caroline (Team Captain: Carrie Tropea) Carrie formed Friends of Caroline when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Friends of Caroline was one of Support Connection’s first walk teams.  Carrie’s mother fought breast cancer for 12 years; she passed in June 2007. Friends of Caroline continues to walk in her memory with Carrie’s daughter, Isabella by her side. Carrie says her mother will always be her hero. Even though Isabella was not blessed to know her grandmother, she loves her and carries on her caring, compassionate and kind spirit.

Most inspiring t-shirt awards:

  1. Team Turtle (Team Captain: Joanne Rhoads, MD) Team Turtle may not be the fastest, but they pride themselves on their enthusiasm and an adorable dog mascot, Bear. The team consists of family members, several who have faced serious health challenges. That does not dampen their spirits as they walk or wheel to support the efforts of Support Connection. They walked in NY, Maryland and Rhode Island.
  2. Faith, Hope, Love (Team Captain: Melissa Carroll) Melissa was told by her doctors on Nov 8, 2018 that she had breast cancer. She was under 40 years old and living a healthy lifestyle when she went through bilateral mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and hormone treatments. Melissa wants others to know that you can still get cancer no matter how young or healthy you are.
  3. Sue’s Crew (Team Captain: Betty Casey) Sue’s Crew has been walking at the Support-A-Walk for 6 years in honor and support of Susan Hope McCarthy, an ovarian cancer survivor. Sue is a warrior and her team loves to rally around her. A few years ago her son Jake was featured in a Support Connection video. He shared how much it meant to his mother, him and his family to receive support from our Peer Counselors. Their gratitude for Sue’s survivorship and our role in supporting them can be heard from the mountain tops.

Most heartwarming t-shirt awards:

  1. Friends of Caroline (Team Captain: Carrie Tropea) Carrie formed Friends of Caroline when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Friends of Caroline was one of Support Connection’s first walk teams.  Carrie’s mother fought breast cancer for 12 years; she passed in June 2007. Friends of Caroline continues to walk in her memory with Carrie’s daughter, Isabella by her side. Carrie says her mother will always be her hero. Even though Isabella was not blessed to know her grandmother, she loves her and carries on her caring, compassionate and kind spirit.
  2. In Memory of Elizabeth Chaparro (Team Captain: Sarah Pace) Sarah and her team walk in memory of her mother Elizabeth Chaparro, her aunt and her grandmother; all three passed way from breast or ovarian cancer. The team has raised over $50,000 in their years participating in the Support-A-Walk. It is also one of our top fundraising teams and the team with the most donors. Sarah hopes one day there will be a cure for breast and ovarian cancer. She will continue walking with her team until that day comes and to honor the mother that she lost to cancer over 15 years ago.
  3. Margaret Zulkowsky (Team Captain: Margaret Zulkowsky) Margaret has been walking in the Support-A-Walk for years. She began walking in memory of her sister Teri who died of breast cancer at a young age. Margaret is celebrating her 12th year as a Breast Cancer. Joining Margaret on her team is sister-in-law Brenda Maxwell who celebrated being a 10 year ovarian cancer survivor this year. Margaret is grateful for Support Connection’s emotional support and assistance for individuals diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer.

Most community spirit t-shirt awards:

  1. Yorktown Football Team (Team Captain: Liz Makar) For years, the Yorktown Football Team held an annual “Pink Night” football game, raising thousands of dollars for Support Connection. Due to the pandemic that couldn’t happen this year, but that was not going the team didn’t let that stop them. They participated in our 2020 Support-A-Walk to keep raising money for our free cancer support services.
  2. Somers Women’s Club (Team Captain: Judith Miele) For years, members of the Somers Women’s Club have raised money for Support Connection and donated baskets of hope for women dealing with breast and ovarian cancer. They give wholeheartedly of themselves so people impacted by breast and ovarian cancer have a place to turn. They also support many other charitable causes in their community.
  3. M&T Bank (Team Captain: Violeta Shala-Guerrero) M&T Bank has been a sponsor of the Walk for many years. Introduced to the organization by Mary Devine, an M&T Bank employee and Support Connection volunteer, everyone at M & T takes pride in being involved with the community. The team is honored to walk to support our services.

Most team spirit t-shirt awards:

  1. Lucia’s Love (Team Captain: Nora Ohlmann) This is Lucia’s Love 10th year participating in our Support-A-Walk. They walk to honor Lucy, a breast cancer survivor. Lucia’s Love applauds Lucy’s strength and bravery, and celebrates her and all cancer survivors.
  2. Sue’s Crew (Team Captain: Betty Casey) Sue’s Crew has been walking at the Support-A-Walk for 6 years in honor and support of Susan Hope, an ovarian cancer survivor. Sue is a warrior and her team loves to rally around her. A few years ago her son Jake was featured in a Support Connection video. He shared how much it meant to his mother, him and his family to receive support from our Peer Counselors. Their gratitude for Sue’s survivorship and our role in supporting them can be heard from the mountain tops.
  3. Cancer Center Crusaders (Team Captain: Ginny Dicheck) Every year the staff of NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital gathers and walks at the Support-A-Walk. They didn’t let the COVID pandemic stop them this year, as they came together and walked around the hospital.
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