Milton resident organizes concert for a cure

Photo by Meghan Erkkinen

SHARON COOPER AND ALICIA ROGERS TRAIN REGULARLY FOR THE BREAST CANCER 3-DAY, A 60-MILE-LONG WALKING EVENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR BREAST CANCER EDUCATION, CARE AND RESEARCH. Cooper and Rogers receive progressive training tips from organizers of the September event.

Milton resident Sharon Cooper is one of the millions of people in this country who have been affected by breast cancer. Cooper’s aunt and the sister of one of her best friends both died of the disease this year.

The death of her friend’s sister prompted her to take action.

“I was tired of sitting on the sidelines helplessly and wanted to do something that might make a dent in fighting the disease,” she said.

An avid walker, Cooper decided to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60-mile-long walking event to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund, to benefit breast cancer research, education, prevention and treatment.

“It just kind of cemented my desire to do this walk,” Cooper said of her friend’s sister’s death. “It made me want to do something about it.”

The minimum amount walkers need to raise in order to participate is $2,200, but Cooper has a loftier goal of $10,000. So far, she has raised $1,500. Cooper is captain of the walking group Twin Peaks Rescue Team, which also includes Milton residents Alicia Rogers and Heather Hamling, as well as Stanwood resident Lori Wood, who each have goals of their own.

Her fundraising efforts so far have included reaching out to people personally to solicit donations, but Cooper is working to put together a show, called Concert for the Cure.

Headlining the show will be Cooper’s husband, renowned baritone John B. Cooper, and tenor Robert McPherson, whose mother died of breast cancer when he was young. The two will perform musical theater songs and opera arias. Also performing with them will be accompanist Sandy

Bleiweiss, vocalists Sandy Fedash and Roy Wilson, and Cooper’s son, 18-year-old Curtis, who plays the mandolin and bass. Cooper is also working to get other musicians on board.

“Planning the fundraising event has been a lot of fun,” she said. “I’ve been really impressed with peoples’ generosity to help…It’s definitely a team effort.”

She has had family and friends help her with such things as coming up with ideas, writing press releases and training with her.

She has also received help from unexpected places. The Knutzen Theater, where the concert will be held, has given Cooper discounted rates on the venue, and Columbia Bank has signed on as a sponsor for the event.

Tickets for the event, on July 26, will cost $10 and will include a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres and drinks before the concert begins. There will also be an opportunity at the event for concertgoers to give extra money to the cause. Cooper hopes to sell out the theater, which holds 240 people.

“It’s pretty cool, she’s really excited about it,” her husband John said. “She’s a really motivated person. When she gets an idea in her head, she goes with it.”

But preparing for the walk is not without its challenges.

“The biggest challenge really has been finding the time to do the training walks,” Cooper said. “Every week gets a little tougher.”

Training for the three-day, 60-mile walk, which takes place Sept. 12-14, gets a little tougher each week, as Cooper slowly increases how much she walks every day. On weekends, she has worked up to walking 17 miles, and over the course of a week, she gets in about 15.

She has had several walking partners, including her son, husband and fellow teammate Alicia Rogers.

Usually, she walks around Milton, and especially enjoys the Interurban Trail, and practices in all weather conditions.

“I walk in it anyway because I don’t know what it’s going to be like on the (three-day) walk,” Cooper said.

The Concert for the Cure will take place July 26 at 6:30 p.m. To volunteer time or reserve tickets, contact Cooper at (253) 973-1375 or . For more information on Cooper’s team or to track their fundraising, visit their website at http://08.the3day.org/goto/TwinPeaksRescue.

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