We are excited to announce the winners of our 2022 Support-A-Walk Awards and Contests. Individuals and Teams across the country participated in our Support-A-Walk for Breast and Ovarian Cancer on October 2, 2022, exemplifying our theme “Walk With Us, Wherever You Are.”
Our Spirit Awards are given to recognize our top fundraisers. Awards are given to Teams that raised the most funds, Teams with the most donors, and Individuals without a team who raised the most funds.
We also held contests for Team T-shirts and Team Banners or Signs. We were thrilled to receive photos from participants who created signs or t-shirts to show why they walk.
Please scroll down to see all of our winners!
2022 Support-A-Walk: Spirit Award Winners
In each category we have listed our first, second and third place winners:
Teams that raised the most funds:
- Debra’s 2022 Fundraising for Breast & Ovarian Cancer (Team Captain: Debra Paget)
- In Memory of Elizabeth Chaparro (Team Captain: Sarah Pace)
- Emerald Angels (Team Captain: Geri Moran)
Teams with the most donors:
- Debra’s 2022 Fundraising for Breast & Ovarian Cancer (Team Captain: Debra Paget)
- In Memory of Elizabeth Chaparro (Team Captain: Sarah Pace)
- Team Bowe (Team Captain: Stephanie Bowe)
Individuals without a team who raised the most funds:
- Diane Barton
- Sara Fischer
- Sabine Leitmann
2022 Support-A-Walk: T-Shirt Contest Winners
First Place: Josie’s Team (Team Captain: Amy Cristallo): This year’s Walk was the first Walk Josie’s Team participated in. We walked to honor my mother, Josephine Mirra-Cristallo, who we lost on October 2, 2021 after her 5 year battle with Ovarian Cancer. This year’s Walk fell on the one year anniversary of her passing. We were so happy to be involved in the event and spend the day celebrating her with our close friends and family. There was even a special appearance from my mom’s English Silver Labrador, “Lily”, who was my moms shadow and companion. There was never a place where my mom wouldn’t run into somebody she knew, and if she didn’t know anyone, she would make a friend by the time we would leave. Our family and friends look forward to continuing on with the tradition of walking in the yearly Support-A-Walk to honor our Josie. – Amy Cristallo, Josie’s daughter, Team Captain
Second Place: In Memory of Elizabeth Chaparro (Team Captain: Sarah Pace): We walk for my Mom, Elizabeth Chaparro, to honor her memory and to keep her spirit alive. I lost her 20 years ago to breast cancer and I have thought of her every day since. This Walk is meaningful to me because our team is named in memory of her & seeing all my friends, my family & now especially my two children wearing her name on their shirts and raising money for such an amazing cause fills me with so much love and peace. The Walk has always been a time that I am able to soak in the goodness and generosity of my loved ones and all the participants that rally together for something so important. It really makes me overwhelmed at times to see so many people coming to walk together for so many different reasons. The Walk is unique in that way – so many people, so many reasons, so many memories, so much pain, so much love – but all coming together on one day. It helps to restore my faith & hope and is a reminder that no matter how long my mom has been gone, her spirit continues. – Sarah Pace, Elizabeth’s daughter, Team Captain
Third Place: Third Place: Team Turtle (Team Captain: Joanne Rhoads): Team Turtle is a group consisting of members of Kathy Quinn’s extended family. Many of us used to walk individually “live” in years past, but eventually decided to join up as a group. This was a Godsend during Covid, since we could walk remotely (and slowly). Several members of the team have had significant health challenges over the years, and are firm believers that the only way Out is Through. We have all benefited from the support of many family and friends during those times, and are believers in the work of Support Connection. We are happy to support the annual Walk. Bear, our mascot, at almost 13 years old and with no teeth, exemplifies the true character of the Team: slow but with a positive attitude and always willing to show up! – Joanne Rhoads, Team Captain
2022 Support-Walk: Team Banner Contest Winners
First Place: Friends of Caroline (Team Captain: Carrie Tropea): Team Friends of Caroline has been walking since 1997 when my mom, Caroline Puppo, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She bravely fought for 12 years, and she was able to experience lots of memories that doctors always said that she wouldn’t make. I truly feel that her fight and battle lasted a lot longer than they expected due to Support Connection and the people that are blessed to be a part of it… Sadly we lost her in June 2007. Friends of Caroline continues to walk not only in her memory, but also to help raise money so that this program can continue to support those who must battle this horrible monster. – Carrie Tropea, Caroline’s daughter, Team Captain
Second Place: Josie’s Team (Team Captain: Amy Cristallo): This years walk was the first walk Josie’s Team participated in. We walked to honor my mother, Josephine Mirra-Cristallo, who we lost on October 2, 2021 after her 5 year battle with Ovarian Cancer. Everyone she knew always called her Josie, and our close family nicknamed her Turtle. We of course knew we needed the main symbol of a turtle on the T-shirt’s. Our family and friends look forward to continuing on with the tradition of walking in the yearly Support-A-Walk to honor our Josie. – Amy Cristallo, Josie’s daughter, Team Captain
Third Place: Team Turtle (Team Captain: Joanne Rhoads):
Team Turtle is a group consisting of members of Kathy Quinn’s extended family. Many of us used to walk individually “live” in years past, but eventually decided to join up as a group. This was a Godsend during Covid, since we could walk remotely (and slowly). Several members of the team have had significant health challenges over the years, and are firm believers that the only way Out is Through. We have all benefited from the support of many family and friends during those times, and are believers in the work of Support Connection. We are happy to support the annual Walk. Bear, our mascot, at almost 13 years old and with no teeth, exemplifies the true character of the Team: slow but with a positive attitude and always willing to show up! – Joanne Rhoads, Team Captain