'When Yours Go Sour, We Go Pink'

Turning 16 wasn’t just about driving for Hadley Kruse.

It also means she’s finally old enough to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure, an endurance walk that challenges participants to raise at least $2,300 for breast cancer research and programs.

“She and I have wanted to do this for several years and finally she’s like: ‘I’m 16 this year,’” her mom, Mechelle Kruse, said.

The two Yorkville ladies have raised more than $5,500 together so far and are working on training for the walk. Mechelle Kruse, who has two daughters and a granddaughter, has seen several family members and work associates touched by cancer.

“We need to do something to help protect everyone we love and care about,” she said.

The Kruses will join Yorkville’s Kelly Snee-Brinegar of the Pink Lemon Ladies and hundreds of other men and women walking around Chicago and the suburbs from Aug. 10 to 12. The 3-Day challenges participants to walk about 20 miles a day and sleep in bright pink tents, although air conditioned vans and buses are available for those who need a lift. 3-Day events are held in 14 cities across the United States.

Snee-Brinegar’s age also influenced her decision to walk: She’s turning 40 this year and wanted “to try something a little more ambitious” after participating in eight Race for the Cure 5Ks.

So far, she’s raised about $1,900 toward her 3-Day goal – and has been blown away by support from the community. On her team of nine, one person already has met the $2,300 fundraising minimum.

“You don’t think you’ll ever get the minimum, but people are so generous,” Snee-Brinegar said. “My 11-mile training doesn’t seem so bad until Saturday morning when you have to do it.”

Mechelle Kruse agrees.  Hayden’s Athletic, a Montgomery sporting goods business owned by Mechelle Kruse’s father-in-law, matched all the employees’ donations, and the Kruses still are selling pink t-shirts, which they also wear on training walks.

 They’re not planning to stop fundraising, either.

“This is our first time doing it,” Mechelle Kruse said, “and we wanted to see how far we could go.”

To donate to Kruse 2 a Cure, click here. To make other arrangements for a donation or to purchase a pink team t-shirt, e-mail Mechelle Kruse at mkruse@castlebank.com. Photos of the team shirt have been posted with this article.

To donate to Pink Lemon Ladies (whose slogan is "When yours go sour, we go pink"), click here or call Kelly Snee-Brinegar at 630-605-9084.