BY ANDY TAYLOR
chronicle@taylornews.org

COFFEYVILLE — A Field Kindley High School teacher is letting her feet — and her heart — fight the battle against breast cancer.

Donna Dyke, a special education teacher, is currently raising money through donations to compete in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day For the Cure walk in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 4-6.

Dyke will join two other friends — Stacie Edens and Ronda Culbertson, both of Fredonia — on the three-day walk where participants walk 20 miles a day for three days, bringing each participant’s total mileage to 60 miles.

All money generated in the walk will go toward breast cancer research.

Each participant in the three-day walk is asked to raise $2,300 for the cancer research effort. That’s why Dyke is seeking donations . . . and also selling clever T-shirts that tell the message of breast cancer awareness.

Dyke, Culbertson and Edens have created a team name — the Kansas Jaywalkers. And, their T-shirts include a picture of a treasure chest with the words “Treasure Your Chest” printed around the picture. The T-shirts are now selling for $15 each ($17 for extra-extra large sizes)

Dyke said cancer is something that affects everyone — simply because everyone knows of someone who has died as a result of cancer or survived the battle. The quest by Dyke and other walkers is to make people aware of breast cancer issues.

Dyke said she has started preparing for the 60 miles of walking she will have to endure over a three-day span. Daily walks are becoming more common. She joins her two friends from Fredonia in zumba classes, which is a Latin dance intended for physical fitness.

“The zumba class is where we thought about putting our efforts together to do the three-day walk in Dallas,” said Dyke. “Since then, we’ve been raising money and working on our walking routine.”

Persons interested in contributing money to the Kansas Jaywalkers can send checks to Donna Dyke, 4580 60th Road, Thayer, KS 66776. Or, the donations can be sent online at www.the3day.org.

The Kansas Jaywalkers also have a Facebook site where they discuss their training and their commitment toward breast cancer awareness.