Sole Sisters: ‘A feeling deep in the sole’

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The Sole Sisters -- (in no particular order) Laura Taylor, Kim Brook, captain; Leigh Brown, Shan Burkhardt, Kim Hopkins, Kathryn Lynn, Debbie Marcum, Tonya Mount, Kim Thompson and Melissa Whittle are raising money to walk in the Susan G. Komen Walk. | Stephanie Nelson/ Star-News

It’s been said the eyes are the window to the soul but for one local group of women, if you want to know what’s inside their heart, take a look at the bottom of their shoes.

Known as the “Sole Sisters,” this group of 10 local women have committed to raising $2,300 each to participate in the 60-mile Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk.

The walk, which is set in Tampa, Fla., Oct. 22-24, is held in support of finding a cure for breast cancer.

While this trip will be the group’s fifth year of participating, it will be team member Laura Taylor’s first three-day trek with the “Sole Sisters.”

“I’m 27, and breast cancer runs in my family,” Taylor said. “My grandmother had a mastectomy when she was younger, so I know what it’s like to be affected by breast cancer.

“I think that the majority of us don’t realize this, but everyone is affected by breast cancer,” she said, and later went on to explain how her husband, Anthony, retold a story of how someone at church told of their grandmother who was recently diagnosed with the disease.

“When we got in the car, I told him, ‘See. You were just affected by breast cancer,’” she said. “It’s as easy as that.”

Taylor said she and a friend participated in a local 5K “Walk for a Cure” held in March.

“I said ‘wouldn’t it be awesome if we did the 60-mile,’” she said. “My friend said, ‘Yes. It will be awesome for you.’”

The group trains three days a week, walking six miles twice a week and a 10-12 mile walk on the weekend and raises money by participating in local fundraisers such as the gospel sing set for 6 p.m., Aug. 21, at Andalusia’s Southside Baptist Church.

“There are 10 of us from Covington County,” Taylor said. “That’s $23,000 raised right here in Covington County to help fight breast cancer.”