Walk for Hope
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This past Sunday, I was on hand as thousands of people took part in the Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer in Glenview, Il. Nobody is more dedicated to this great cause than actress Andrea Evans, whose mother, Audrey, is a breast cancer survivor and “is doing fabulously”, according to her proud daughter.
Evans has been a celebrity spokesperson for the Walk for Hope for the last eight years.”As the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, this cause is near and dear to my heart,” Evans stated to the massive crowd.
Andrea’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989. For Evans, the Walk is very much a family event, as members from her family have joined her as she participates in the Walks. This year, her beautiful little girl and husband joined her in the effort.
Cancer survivors, their families and her fans are always happy to see Evans at the events. City of Hope is also proud to have Evans on board. “We are grateful for Andrea Evans’ commitment to City of Hope and our mission to make breast cancer a curable and preventable disease,” said Dan Lacovara, associate vice president of communications at City of Hope. “The groundbreaking cancer research that takes place at City of Hope is made possible by the steadfast support from people like Andrea and the hundreds of thousands of people who support our Walk for Hope.”
Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer events have raised more than $27 million for breast cancer research, treatment and education programs at City of Hope since its inception 13 years ago. The Walks take place in several major U.S. cities each year.
Evans’ efforts don’t end with the Walk. Together with the owner of LATHER, Evans created Soap for Hope. Evans explains, “I developed it from the ground up. The scent, the look, the package…everything,” but more importantly, “100 percent of all the proceeds go to City of Hope for breast cancer research.”
Evans is proud and excited about Soap for Hope and LATHER is just as happy. “We are extremely proud to be partnering with City of Hope, which is such an inspirational and well respected organization, as well as Andrea Evans, who inspires millions of people everyday,” explains Emilie Hoyt, president and founder of LATHER. “Both share in LATHER’s mission to help lead a more radiant life.”
Professionally, Evans is back on familiar ground, playing Tina Lord, the role she made famous on TV’s “One Life to Live“. Evans exclaimed, “I love being back on “One Life to Live”. I’m having a fabulous time. It’s like coming back home.”
Although she lives on the West Coast and OLTL is filmed in NY, Evans plans on staying on as long as it is okay with her family life. For Andrea Evans, it always comes back to her family, just like with the Walk for Hope.
-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist
October 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I have participated in the Walk 4 Hope for years out in Los Angeles. I had the pleasure of meeting Andrea there. It’s a fantastic cause and City of Hope is a great organization. They did everything right at the Walk.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
The people at City of Hope were so helpful to my family when a loved one was battling cancer. My family always does the Walk and we will continue to support City of Hope. They are so wonderful.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
My mother is a breast cancer survivor and I couldn’t say enough great things about City of Hope and the Walk for Hope. I proudly wear my pink ribbon pin all year, not just in October. Thanks for recognizing this great organization.
October 8th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I have four cousins that have battled breast cancer, including one who had surgery just a few weeks ago. This issue is very close to my heart, and I’m so thankful that people like Andrea are there to put a public face to this disease. John, thank you for highlighting this wonderful cause!
October 8th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I agree with all of the comments. The City of Hope does a fantastic job on every level. My family will always be grateful and will always support their efforts for breast cancer research.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
It is so great to hear about the City of Hope and the wonderful work Andrea Evans does for the organization. Thankfully I haven’t needed to use them, but it is nice to know there is someone out there in your time of need. I am a big OLTL fan and enjoy Andrea being back as Tina.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
The City of Hope does a wonderful job on so many levels. I thank them and people like Andrea Evans for all their efforts. They give so much of their time and energy and provide help and comfort to so many people in need. Thanks!
October 8th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I am always slightly skeptical when I see special products with proceeds going to certain causes. I have to admit that Lather and Soap For Hope is one of the great ones! The products are great and the fact that a legitimate amount is going to research for breast cancer makes it a wonderful package.
October 8th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I applaud GT for covering this event and cause. This is simply one more reason why I love GT. You cover the world and all parts of it. You care about the world, not just a buck.
My applause goes to City of Hope, all of the volunteers, Andrea Evans and all else involved for their fine and diligent work.
I must admit, I had a crush on Andrea way, back and I would love to meet her, too! It’s great to know how dedicated she is to this great cause.
This whole thing made my day.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Hey, I think I saw you when you were interviewing Andrea. She just left the main stage and you went near the big bouncy room for the kids. I recognized you from your blog. I didn’t want to bother you, but then later I couldn’t find you again.
Yes, the Walk for Hope is a fantastic event filled with fantastic people! Applause to all.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
As a breast cancer survivor, I cannot express my thanks enough to everyone involved. Andrea for being there and raising awareness, City of Hope for their tireless work, Walk for Hope for the fund-raising, the walkers and volunteers for making it a success, the advertisers for helping the walk take place. Everyone is simply so wonderful. I am happy to be alive and thankful for all of their efforts.
Thanks, too, to Global Traveler for taking time to recognize these great people.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
We had 3 generations of walkers out there on Sunday. I met Andrea and her family. It’s great to see it is not just lip service with Andrea. He commitment shows clearly.
The people involved all do a great job. It is a lot of work, but such a great outcome. God bless them all.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I am so happy that Andrea is back on OLTL. Tina is a great character. I am glad that Tina has retained her charm, yet still matured.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Great article. Great organizations. Great work by all.
That sums it all for me.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Thank you Global Traveler and John Wroblewski for shining light on all these wonderful people. They never get enough credit. I have been a walker for years and fortunately cancer has not hit anyone in my family. But I have seen the work they do and I wanted to be part of the cure!
Global Traveler, you now have 1 new reader!
October 8th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
At the risk of being repetitive, I have many great things to say about City of Hope and the Walk for hope. After my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, my sister and I gathered our friends and family and formed a huge team to walk together. We laughed and cried our way through the walk, but most importantly we raised money for breast cancer research. My mother was at the finish line waiting for us. We are happy to say she is still with us and doing great.
The folks at City of Hope are like family to us.
God bless them all.
And thank you to Andrea Evans for her continual effort for the Walk.
October 8th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
When I saw the treatment that City of Hope gave my wife during her battle with cancer, they gained a supporter for life. We have all gone out, rain or shine, sick or well every year since. The Walk has become a big party for us, especially since mama is still here to dance with me!
October 8th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
What a great article on such a moving and important topic! Thank you GT and John Wroblewski for bringing to light such a great cause! City of Hope has always had a soft spot in my famlies heart and does such outstanding work. I am certain that as more people read this, they will be moved to be more involved and help find a cure for Breast Cancer! Keep up the GREAT writing!
October 8th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
G.T. & John Wroblewski…YOU ROCK!!!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I agree completely about the good folks at City of Hope. I will never forget them for all they did for my sister.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Mark is right. I hope this article and others like it encourage more people to get involved. The crowds at these events are great, but they can always be bigger. Like Andrea said, hopefully someday our children or their children won’t have to worry about this disease!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Unfortunately, cancer will probably affect everyone’s life at some point. Fortunately, the great people at City of Hope work on all ends to rid our lives of this disease.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
My family will never forget the fine staff at City of Hope. The work they do is so important. I encourage everyone to support City of Hope in any way they can. Walk. Donate. Volunteer. Simply wear a pink ribbon. It all helps. And it is all appreciated by people affected by cancer.
My father never supported any charity until his sister was diagnosed. Now, he is out there doing anything he can to help. He speaks so highly of the Walk for Hope. I think he has about 20 shirts!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I highly recommend LATHER’s Soap for Hope. It is a great product and it benefits City of Hope. Believe me, you will not be disappointed in it. It is much better than products at similar stores. I believe LATHER really cares about their customers.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Great article. Nice to know about organizations like City of Hope. Thanks to Andrea Evans
and all the volunteers for all their hard work making the Walk for Hope a huge success. Glad
to see Andrea back as Tina on OLTL.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:58 am
I have attended the Walk in Seattle. It is a fantastic event. The folks at City of Hope and the volunteers just give great efforts. The participants show great emotion and dedication.
It’s great to see Global Traveler recognize this fine organization and Andrea, too for her work with them.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:58 am
It’s always nice to see a story like this. Andrea Evans is a great person for this world. You don’t need to appreciate the soaps to appreciate this article. Hopefully this will change a lot of peoples’ minds and get more involved.
Great Work!
October 9th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I want to chime in and thank City of Hope for all of their great efforts. They are simply wonderful.
Thank you GT for covering this event and this organization.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I love having my Tina back on OLTL. It’s great that her mom is doing well and that they all continue to support the Walk 4 Hope. I applaud them and City of Hope.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Hey GT, way to go in covering this event. Great to see a big company, whose primary focus is big business and travel, spend a little time and space on such a worthy event. We need more people like Andrea, City of Hope and yes, GT, too!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:05 am
A great feel-good article, but one with real heart and soul, not just lip service.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:06 am
I really commend Andrea Evans for all the work she does for this event. Bravo!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I have had some contact with Emilie Hoyt of LATHER nd she is the genuine deal. Her company is concerned sincerely about their products and their customers. It isn’t just the bottom line for her. Yet, I am sure her company is doing very well. Good to know that her style works in this day and age!
I probably can say the same for Global Traveler. The magazine is fantastic and seems to be succeeding during these tough times. Yet GT uses their time and effort and stage to produce blogs like this (and other less serious ones…I Loved the Alex dog blog of the other day).
October 9th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Applause to all!
My family has been affected by breast cancer several times. Through the grace of God, everyone has beaten the disease. Thanks to the City of Hope for all they do.
October 9th, 2008 at 8:48 am
My sister was diagnosed in 2002. God bless everyone, she is doing awesome now! My family and friends are dedicated Walkers every year. We wear our group tshirts and make a huge deal out of it, followed by a big pizza and beer party!
Thank you Walk for Hope and Andrea Evans. Thanks GT for covering this issue. Count me as another new reader.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Thank you Global Traveler for covering this event. Tammy’s Team was out in force on Sunday to support the cause. Tammy is a breast cancer survivor and my team of family and friends will always support the Walk.
John gave us a few of your magazines and Tammy’s Team members are now readers of GT.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:11 am
My family came down from Green Bay for the Walk. The emotion at the event is overwhelming. What a great group of people everywhere I looked.
I must also admit to having a crush on Andrea during my younger days. Of course the love of my life is my beautiful wife, Angie, who is beating breast cancer and getting better every day.
Thank you everyone and blessings to you.
Frank Torkelson
October 9th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Looks like I am a bit late in responding. Everyone else stole my thoughts. I’ll just say I agree with all. Everyone involved should be applauded.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Gt has done it again. It’s great that you highlight such a fantastic event and group, especially when all else we hear on the news is about the tumbles of the economy and the Presidential race.
City for Hope and Andrea Evans deserve every bit of applause that we give them.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
The Walk For Hope is a wonderful event. The volunteers are always so kind and pleasant. The walkers are all like one big family. I cannot tell you how much this event means to my sister-in-law who has beaten cancer (we hope and pray) and to all of us for having her still here.
I echo everyone else when I say thank you to everyone involved.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
At the risk of spoiling Christmas, several female members of my family will be getting Soap For Hope as presents. We are fortunate to have several breast cancer survivors among us.
I think I will give out a few Global Traveler subscriptions, too.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Well said by all. As a survivor of a breast cancer scare (only, thank God), I am fully committed to this great cause. Hopefully, that is as close as I will get and hopefully through work like this, breast cancer will eventually be eliminated.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Okay, I guess I am jumping on this bandwagon a little late, but there is always room for more praise, right?
Praise to City of Hope for tireless dedication.
Praise to everyone involved with Walk for Hope for commitment and effort.
Praise to Andrea Evans for raising awareness and being on hand.
Praise to Global Traveler for supporting the event through coverage.
praise to John Wroblewski for being there and writing about it.
Finally, most important, praise to my God for letting my love Alice, stay with me and not taking her yet!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
John, I applaud you for taking part in the walk. I too come from a family with mutiple breast cancer survivors and one who did not. I hope with all my heart that they find a cure for for this disease.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Chances are cancer will hit everyone’s life at some point either directly or indirectly. Any and every step in the direction of its’ elimination deserves applause. Too often these organizations only get real headlines when something bad is involved.
October 11th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Great coverage of a great group and a great event.
October 11th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I guess I got here too late. At least I am glad that the number of comments shows what people think of the City of Hope and the Walk. I am sure everyone has a certain cause near and dear to their hearts and this is truly one of mine, as it seems to be for many of my fellow responders here.
October 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
It’s good to see Andrea and her family actually doing the Walk. I also saw many Walk volunteers doing the Walk. This isn’t just lip service for these dedicated individuals. They show their commitment.
October 12th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I didn’t know Andrea was back on One Life to Live. How do I miss these things? I do know she works very hard for City of Hope (as everyone involved does). It’s like one big extended family!
October 13th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I applaud all those like Andrea who are working tirelessly towards a cure. Great work.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Thank you to everyone who responded. More importantly, thanks to everyone who does anything to help great causes like Walk for Hope.