AARP Chicago: 2018 Beverly Breast Cancer Walk

Imagine this: AARP volunteers are asked to turn out for a three-mile hike – on Sunday – in fact, on Mother’s Day.  And after it’s over, they’re thanking AARP for the opportunity.  That had to have been a fun event.

That’s what happened when 38 AARP Illinois members, decked out in pink AARP T-shirts, led a breast-cancer awareness and fundraising walk in Chicago’s historic Beverly neighborhood on May 13. Volunteers distributed 1,000 AARP-branded cups of coffee and 1,000 AARP drawstring bags while also distributing AARP pins and other tchotchkes at a tent honoring cancer survivors.

The event was led by a dozen AARP volunteers and staffer Courtney Hedderman. It’s become something of a local tradition for Hedderman’s team.  It also helps connect AARP members, their families and volunteers to the powerful social mission of AARP, as volunteer Barb Czyz explained in a note after the event:

“Once again I want to thank you for the great time I had on Sunday. As you know that is one of my special volunteer days and you your mom and family always make it fun.  I was glad to have walked to 103rd and thank you and Judy for walking slow with me.  Hope next year I can do entire walk.  At age almost 73 the shirts mean something to me because they have the date on them and I save them to know how many I did and what years.  The AARP pink this year was so cool.  I will always be available for this walk and anything else you need volunteers for. “