Hudson Woman Honors Sister at Lowell General's TeamWalk for CancerCare Event

Hudson resident Michelle Burke has a personal beef with cancer. In August of 2009, her 43-year-old sister, Linda, was diagnosed with lung cancer even though she hadn't smoked since her early twenties. In 2010, when Michelle became pregnant with her 3rd son, she discovered Linda's cancer had spread.

"How could I be celebrating such a high moment in my life while my sister was going through this?" said Burke. "I was at a loss. I talked to her about everything. How could I possibly talk to her about the life I had growing inside of me, all the while she was losing hers? She wouldn't have it. She wanted to hear all about it. My sister was compassionate, always looking out for other s, and cancer couldn't take that way from her."

The same week in July 2010 that her son was born, her sister lost her battle to the dreaded disease.

Burke, an employee of Lowell General Hospital, has always supported the hospital's annual fundraising event, TeamWalk for CancerCare, now in its 15th year. But now, it's personal. Burke walks for her sister and for others who are currently battling cancer and undergoing treatment. This year, Burke participated as a singer for the event’s new video, an acappella version of Katy Perry’s “Firework” that can be viewed on the homepage at www.teamwalk.org.

"My family has been deeply touched by the effects of cancer. I lost my father in 2002 and then my sister in 2009," said Burke. "We need to step up and make a difference. That's why I participate in TeamWalk!" 

If you go:
When: May 18th, 2014
Where: Tsongas Center, 300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Lowell
Time: Registration opens at 7:30am
Opening Ceremonies: 8:45am
6.2 mile walk starts: 9:00am
3 mile walk starts: 10:00am
To register or donate: www.teamwalk.org