Northville Woman Walks 3 Days, Raises $3K for Breast Cancer Outreach

Debbie Eichholtz, of Northville, was an ambassador last weekend for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day breast cancer event.

She said it was her best walk ever.

“If I can do the 3-Day, anyone can do it," said Eichholtz, 51, who walked more than 20 miles each day.

The group of about 1,000 walkers raised $2,700,000, she said. She personally raised over $3,000, which exceeded the $2,300 minimum for participants. The money raised helps fund education and outreach programs in the community.

Eichholtz has lived in Northville since '95 and works with students with special needs at Silver Springs Elementary. This was her fifth year participating in a 3-Day event. She said every year she walked, another of her friends was diagnosed with breast cancer.  

"One in every eight women will receive the diagnosis," she said.

In 2009, Eichholtz walked for the first time when her son's best friend's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. 

"Watching everything that she had to endure gave me the inspiration to walk," she said.

Eichholtz walked this year for her and five other women -- three former Silver Springs Elementary employees and her two friends diagnosed last year -- who have all successfully been treated and are currently in remission. 

Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers push themselves to the limit

Walkers started out from "home base" each day in Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace. Eichholtz said the walk continued through places like Lyon Oaks County Park and along the shore of Walled Lake. She walked 20.2 miles on Friday.

"The second day we left Novi and headed south on Taft Road," she said. "We walked first through Northville, which was wonderful because it was home for me."

It was so rewarding when she passed through the Northville cheering station, she said, to see so many familiar faces supporting her.

Saturday's walk continued into Kellogg Park in Plymouth, through Hines Park and back into Northville. Because of the construction on Eight Mile Road, the walkers took an unexpected and lengthier detour. Eichholtz said she walked 25 to 26 miles that day, a personal best for her.

"It was definitely the hardest day I ever walked," she said. 

Eichholtz's family, who were volunteers, saw her as she rounded the corner at Grand River Avenue and Novi Road. 

"They're yelling at me: 'Do you want a ride? Do you want a ride?' My first thought was: 'Are you kidding me? I've gone this far, so I can do the rest,' " she said.

On the final day, the group traveled via bus to Kellogg Elementary School in Livonia and walked to Dearborn, from Merriman Avenue to Ford Road to Michigan Avenue, to get to Ford Motor Company World Headquarters for the event's closing ceremonies. 

The 3-Day event is over but those interested still have the chance to support the cause. Check out Eichholtz's personal participant page online to learn how to donate.