Team W.I.S.H. to honor fallen leader at annual event

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 9/15/2011

For the seventh straight year Ironwood Golf Course and Team W.I.S.H. Arizona
will partner for a 5K-breast cancer walk/run.
The event, which will take place at 8 a.m. Oct. 1, was spearheaded by Team W.I.S.H. founder and captain Linda Kacmarsky, who died in December following a 10-year long battle with breast cancer.
“In years past we’ve called it the Ironwood Walk, but now we’re calling it Linda’s W.I.S.H.,” co-captain Dy Mogan said. “In her honor we will continue to Walk in Spirit and Hope until this dreaded disease is no more.” 
Last year’s event was marked by the group reaching $1 million in funds raised since
starting out in 2004.
“The amazing thing is we don’t have any large sponsors,” Mogan said. “This started with Linda. She had breast cancer and she decided she wanted to help other women and men suffering with cancer too. We do a lot of events throughout the year involving our 55 members, many of which will fly in from across the country for this event. It’s a series of small donations through a lot of fundraising activities. Linda fostered a feeling of family with this team. We’re close as a bunch, and we’ve also become very well known
as a group for the charitable work we do.”
Last year’s walk raised more than $7,500 with more than 500 participants attending.
“We’d like to have upwards of 700 people and see if we can’t exceed $7,500,” Mogan said.
The day’s events begin with registration at 7 a.m.
Registration, which is available as late as the morning of the event, costs $20 for adults, $10 for children 11-18, while kids 10 and under are free.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. with the run set to start at 8 am. In between registration and the start of the race there will be an introduction, which will include a survivor circle as breast cancer survivors in attendance will be recognized.
The 5K event will start with runners, followed by walkers, then finishing with families with small children.
The Boulder Creek Key Club and the spiritline, which designed the t-shirts that will be given out to those that registered for the event prior to Sept. 9, will be in attendance to cheer on participants.
The shirts recognize 21 sponsors that donated anywhere from $250 to $1,000. Other
attendees will be local Boys and Girl Scout groups.
Breakfast, provided by the Ironwood Country Club, will be available to all participants.
“This event is really the celebration of Linda’s legacy,” Mogan said. “She was so involved with this community. It’s impossible not to smile when you think about Linda. She made everyone she met feel special.”
At last year’s event Kacmarsky gave a speech that concluded with, “Believe that you are people who are willing to fight for a cause that matters deeply to you. Believe that you are people who are willing to look at each other and say: I share your commitment. I pledge that you are not alone in the fight against breast cancer. I believe in your hope that everyone deserves a lifetime… and finally, I share your dream of a world without breast cancer.”
“Our hearts will be heavy this year without our beloved captain and friend, but knowing Linda she would be kicking us along the way, cheering louder then anyone and telling us to take care of business, which we will,” said Carol Stacy, co-captain.
For information on how to sign up for “Linda’s W.I.S.H.” 5K Walk/Run contact Mogan at 623-512-1547 or dricemogan@cox.net or go to www.OnlineAtAnthem.com.