Making a difference by walking for a cause

Sandy Albert, of Hanover, has been committed to walking in the “Susan G. Komen 3-day Walk” (a.k.a. 3-day Nation) for breast cancer since 2014. The walk over three days totals 60 miles. She has participated every year since 2014, except for 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sandy, and her husband, Glen, have lived in Hanover for 19 years. “This is where we are supposed to be, we have lifelong friends here,” Albert said.

“In 2012, my best friend’s daughter-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28,” Albert shared. She is originally from southern Minnesota, where her friend still resided at the time, along with her daughter-in-law. Albert wanted to find a way to help from a distance. “They lived in a small town; it was all hands-on deck,” she said.

Albert has walked in the Twin Cities to participate in the charitable event. With COVID concerns, walkers have the option to complete their 60 miles from home, creating their own walking routes. She walked in Hanover last year and will be walking in Hanover again this year.

She shared her experience participating in walks over the years. “I’ve met so many people, survivors, families of those who have or have had breast cancer, and more,” She shared that the event was very inspiring and motivational.

Sandy plans to complete her walk in September 2022, near her 65th birthday. When completing her walk in Hanover last year, she mapped out a five-mile loop starting and ending at her house. “Some of my friends would walk a five-mile loop with me,” she stated. “Walking in Hanover got the community involved,” she continued.

Albert enjoys the community involvement and support. “Last year, I only walked around 20 miles alone; other than those 20 miles, I always had at least one person with me,” she noted. For mile 59, many community members and friends joined Sandy on a walk to River Inn Bar & Grill and held a celebration. After the celebration, the group walked back with her. “We all did it together,” she said. Albert has had friends, family, and community members already reach out to walk with her again this year.

People who participate in the Susan G. Koman walk also do a fair amount of fundraising to participate, the funds go towards breast cancer research. Participants can get creative with fundraising.

In the beginning, Sandy composed a letter explaining why she was participating and where the money goes. “I kept trying to think of new ways to fundraise, so I don’t have to keep asking the same people,” she remarked.

Albert has held an annual garage sale as part of her fundraising efforts since 2019. “One of my favorite parts is running the garage sale. Putting it all together is a great amount of work, but once it starts, it’s a blast,” Albert stated with enthusiasm. Weather permitting, Sandy will be hosting her garage sale August 18-19 (Thursday and Friday).

She gladly mentioned that over the years she has received tremendous support from friends, family, and even strangers in her community. “I couldn’t accomplish this had it not been for the support of so many people, including my family, friends, neighbors, and more. They’re the ones in the end that donated the money, prayed for me and the cause, and shown support,” she reflected.

To find Sandy’s fundraising page, visit the Susan G. Komen 3-day website at: https://www.the3day.org/.