Melinda McCarty Irwin and Pam Wirth from Muncy will be walking a total of 60 miles this weekend in Philadelphia for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer self awareness campaign. They have raised over $8,000 so far for the event.

MUNCY – This weekend two very strong women from Muncy are planning on walking 60 miles for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pam Wirth and Melinda McCarty Irwin will be leaving for Philadelphia later this week and will walk 20 miles a day for the three day event that will take place October 4, 5 and 6. The event is sponsored by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a global movement which was established in 1982.

Their exact route has not been revealed to them yet due to security reasons. Wirth said that they will be starting in Willow Grove, then traveling through Philadelphia and ending at the Naval Grounds nearby. During the evening they will be camping out in pink tents according to Irwin.

Wirth said that she is doing this because her mom is a 15 year breast cancer survivor and wanted to raise money in support of the cause. Irwin said she wants to do this because she had an aunt she was very close to who passed away from breast cancer. “I also lost some close friends within the past few years,” she added.

Both women met at the Live Well Fitness Center in downtown Muncy where they have also been training for the big event. “We walked 18 miles two weeks ago in Lewisburg,” they said. Wirth also added that they like to walk at Montour Preserve around the lake as much as they can and they also cross train at the fitness center. Bob Richards, co-owner of LiveWell Fitness Center said that these two women have been working very hard. “They are committed to this,” he said. “They have been working out not only in the gym, but they are doing other things to get ready for this,” he added.

Fitness goals are important to both women. Melinda is a Kettle Bells trainer and Pam is a biking enthusiast. Since January 1st of 2013, they spend an average of 5 to 6 days a week training for this 3 day “Making Strides” event. “We decided to do this the first of the year,” Melinda said.

So far the women have raised over $8,000. Their last fundraiser was at the Muncy Corvette show on Saturday, September 21. They have held yard sales, raffles, and bingo fundraisers throughout the year.

Today Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives and to empower people to ensure quality cure.

Melinda who is 58 is also ranking in the Kettle Bells Competition and is a trainer at the fitness center. Pam concluded, “We will finish this race.”

Meanwhile the local American Cancer Society’s fourth annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Lycoming County 5K walk will take place Saturday, Oct. 12, in Indian Park, 617 N. Loyalsock Ave., Montoursville. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10.

There is no fee for teams to enter and no limit to the number of people per team. Those who are interested in signing up may do so at www.makingstrideswalk.org/lycoming.