East County women walk to raise breast-cancer awareness

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Thousands of people will participate in the walk-a-thon in an effort to help raise money for breast cancer research. "Each one of those people walking has their own personal reason," Tesler, 54, said. "It is hard to find someone who hasn't been affected by cancer in some way."
For Tesler it all started because four of her aunts were diagnosed with cancer. Of the four sisters, three died before the age of 40.
"Two of the sisters had breast cancer," she said. "When Avon came up with this walk, I had to do it."
Tesler's first walk was 12 years ago when she walked from Santa Barbara to Malibu. That walk lasted for three days.
The next walk she took was 10 years ago in San Francisco. At the time she not only walked for her aunts but for a friend who died from cancer three days before the walk.
"This is something we can do to bring awareness to the cause. Everywhere someone has a daughter or a niece who was hurt by this disease. We are doing something," Tesler said.
Before each of these walks each of the participants is asked to raise money to donate to breast cancer research. As a team, Tesler and Kohler, otherwise known as the California Dreamin' team, have made a goal to raise $5,000 from friends and family who supported their efforts. Last week they were nearly there with Tesler raising $2,130 and Kohler raising $2,300.
Tesler has already walked in the New York marathon once and is excited about getting the chance to complete the walk again. Despite having foot surgery earlier this year, she has been able to walk every other day or so. As of last week she and Kohler were up to walking 18 miles in one day.
This time Tesler isn't only walking in the memory of her aunts and friend, but another friend who died in January. Antioch's Renee Mercado was well-known to the Antioch community, having worked at Deer Valley High School. Tesler and Mercado went to high school together in Antioch and remained friends over the years.
Kohler was also a friend of Mercado. She has walked with Tesler in the past and is happy to help the cause in New York. She also walked in the Avon Walks for Breast Cancer in 2000 and in 2006.
"This year, I will be walking in memory of an old friend, Linda Dupree, who fought breast cancer for many years and ultimately lost her battle in 2006 on the very weekend we were walking in New York," Kohler said.
Kohler said that she would also be walking in memory of her longtime friend Jimmy Matejeck, who passed away after a battle with cancer in August 2009.
"During my training and walk, I will also be honoring my friend Tami and my cousin Stephanie, two strong women survivors and warriors in the fight against breast cancer," Kohler said.
Kohler said that the Avon Foundation funds both local and national organizations in five key areas: medical research, education and early detection programs, clinical care and support services, all with a focus on the medically underserved.
To help the California Dreamin' team make its goal, donations can be sent directly to www.avonwalk.org. Go to "donate," enter either Betsy Kohler or Annette Tesler where indicated and follow the prompts.