CHSD170 Administrator Gretchen Sutherland to Join Hundreds of Participants in an Upcoming Susan G. Komen 60-Mile Walk

For many years citizens from every walk of life have banded together to join in the Susan G. Komen walks fighting breast cancer.

This year, Washington-McKinley School Principal Gretchen Sutherland will join that group of steadfast participants as they travel to San Diego to join in a three-day, 60-mile walk to fulfill that commitment to making a real difference in the fight against breast cancer.

Sutherland will be walking as part of a team called “There’s Hope.” The team is captained by Sutherland’s friend Julie Lange, a cancer survivor who coined the team name as an important reminder that cancer can be beaten.

“I’m honored to walk alongside my beautiful friend, Julie,” Sutherland said. “She is a living reminder of the truth of our team’s name as she has defeated this dreaded disease and serves as an example of hope, strength, and courage to everyone who knows her.”

Sutherland’s commitment to the Susan G.Komen walk also has a more personal motivation as she has lost both a grandmother and an aunt to breast cancer.

“I walk not only to honor Julie and other survivors,” she said, “but also to support advanced research and treatments that will ensure that our daughters and other loved ones are spared from this devastating disease.”

As in almost everything she does, though, Sutherland’s essence as an educator shines through in her attitude about her participation in the walk.

“I also agreed to join our team to set an example to the students at my school,” she said.

“They, along with my children and family are an essential element in my life and I sincerely believe that as a servant leader it is important to do all we can to underscore the importance of giving to others.”

In the photo accompanying this article Sutherland (far right) is shown with her fellow team members Colleen McQuillan (center), Missy Hudnall (left) and Julie Lange (front center).

Anyone interested in learning more about the Susan G. Komen initiative or the “There’s Hope” team can join in a fundraising activity at R-Bar on September 16th, or visit Sutherland’s fundraising page at: https://tinyurl.com/ybnuxjfd