Breast Cancer Walkers Battle Brutal Heat

BOSTON (CBS) – The scorching temperatures on Friday forced event organizers for a 60-mile breast cancer fundraising walk to activate their hazardous heat event plan and begin busing walkers to the lunch stop.

The organizers for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day For the Cure planned to meet Friday afternoon to decide how to handle the heat for the remainder of the day.  Organizers were considering closing portions of the route or keeping walkers at pit stops.

The walkers began their 60-mile trek on Friday in Framingham and were scheduled to walk 20 miles each day to raise money to support the foundation in breast cancer research and education.

WBZ-TV's Alana Gomez reports

And the heat wasn't diminishing the commitment displayed by walkers.

"I don't think you could keep us away from something like this," said Carol Chaoui, a 3-day participant who was diagnosed with stage-3 breast cancer two years ago. "Heat is nothing."

The route was lined with pit stops, staffed with medics, and stocked with food and water to make sure everyone stayed safe. There were also plenty of cheering squads on the route providing refreshments, but families of some walkers still expressed concern.

"I'm very worried about the heat because it's going to be a triple-digit day," said breast cancer survivor Linda Norman, whose daughter was walking in her honor. "It's going to be a tough road."

"It makes me want to cry, really," Norman added. "It just means a tremendous amount for me because I couldn't do it myself."