Health & Fitness
Local Woman Saddles Up in Honor of Best Friend at Komen Connecticut Ride for the Cure
Daria Nettleton saddled up her horse to ride in honor of her sister-in-law's fight with breast cancer at Komen CT Ride for the Cure.
At age 34, Dorothy found a mosquito bite sized lump in her breast. Her doctor advised her to wait and see due to her age. By the time she had a biopsy, Dorothy was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Her best friend and sister-in-law, Daria Nettleton, decided she needed to take action.
In 2009, Daria saddled up her horse for her first Ride for the Cure. Since then, she has participated in three Rides, and in 2013 was named the Platinum Rider, an honor given to the top fundraiser each year. Dorothy was only able to attend two of Daria’s Rides before she lost her fight with breast cancer. Daria now rides in her honor.
“My personal loss due to breast cancer has made me more aware of the need for funding in Connecticut to support breast cancer services,” said Daria. “Bringing attention to early detection is critical. The Ride for the Cure was the perfect opportunity for me to give back and raise awareness.”
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Now in its 14th year, the Komen Connecticut Ride for the Cure is a unique event supporting the fight against breast cancer, raising more than $763,000 in the last 13 years. Held each year at Twisted Tree Farm in Hampton, the event is an opportunity for those affected by breast cancer to come together and Ride for the Cure.
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Seventy-five percent of Komen Connecticut’s net proceeds support local breast cancer programs across Connecticut and the remaining 25 percent is invested in research to find the causes and cures for the disease. Over the past four years, Komen Connecticut has granted approximately $4 million to local organizations providing lifesaving services for women in need across our state, including the Hartford Hospital Mobile Mammography program, a Spanish-speaking support group at the Hispanic Health Council and patient navigation services at Saint Francis Hospital, among others.
“My participation and fundraising for the Ride is my way to honor the memory of my beautiful friend. She was an angel on earth who was called home too soon.”
Get involved, like Daria, by supporting the Ride for the Cure on October 5, 2014 at Twisted Tree Farms in Hampton, CT. For additional information and to register, visit KomenCT.org or call (860) 321-7806.
