Allison's walk — A daughter's gift to her mom

NORTH CANAAN — When Allison Clayton was a toddler, during the autumn of 1986, she moved to New York City with her mom, so they could remain together while Susie Clayton underwent treatment for breast cancer.

That was at New York Presbyterian Hospital (known at that time as Columbia Presbyterian). This past spring, Allison moved from her lifelong North Canaan home to the city, to take a job at that same hospital.

And on Oct. 10 and 11, she will walk in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer — 39.3 miles, a marathon and a half — around the city, with a night spent camping in between. Oct. 11 will be her 25th birthday.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend it,†Allison said. “It’s long been a dream of mine to do something really proactive in the battle against breast cancer. Now that I’m living in the city, and the opportunity is right in front of me, I can’t ignore it.â€

Allison, a graduate of North Canaan Elementary School and Housatonic Valley Regional High School (2002), had just finished college and was getting her life together as an adult when her mother was again diagnosed with breast cancer.

That was November 2006, and that time, Allison truly understood the meaning of the diagnosis. She supported her mother through a mastectomy, and became more determined than ever to be part of the fight. She also remembered her cousin’s successful battle against the disease in the mid-1990s.

“There are many reasons why I am doing this charity walk,†Allison said. “The main one seems so obvious: Breast cancer needs to be obliterated! Perhaps my main motives are seemingly selfish, but I think everyone walking this walk can claim the same thing. I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of those walking have either been affected by and/or knows a woman or man that has dealt with this disease.

“For me, it was my mother, on two occasions, and a cousin of my mother’s and mine. I think of these two woman and know that I never want them to go through this again. I’m okay with being a little selfish in this case.

“Thousands of others are walking because they want to put a stop to this disease.  We all walk for the ones we love and we walk for those we don’t even know. We walk for early detection and eventually domination over breast cancer. We walk to help those being stricken now, so they can survive and walk with us next year to continue this cycle!

“My mom used to walk the streets of New York in her fight against breast cancer. Now, it’s my turn to do the same thing.â€

Since she began training in June, Allison discovered she is a “natural born walker.†Three to four days a week, she laces up her trusty old pair of Pumas and walks for two hours, up to six miles, along the Hudson River in Riverside Park, where she has often had to resist dipping her tired feet into the river.

Otherwise, training has been a breeze, and she anticipates no problems completing the Avon walk. She and thousands of others will camp on Randall’s Island, a park off Manhattan (under the Triborough Bridge).

Walkers are required to raise at least $1,800. Allison is about three quarters of the way there. Of course, she wants to raise much more than that, and is counting on a generous Northwest Corner community to help.

All donations are made through the Internet at avonwalk.org/goto/allisonac. Updates are also available at Allison’s Facebook page.