Rita Walsh was ready to turn in her walking shoes.
For five years, Walsh and dozens of friends from Queen of Martyrs Parish and Chicago's Mount Greenwood community organized a Mass before piling onto a school bus and heading downtown for the Y-Me breast cancer walk on Mother's Day.
At first they walked in honor of their friend, Sue Kramer, who was battling the disease.
After Kramer's death in 2003, they walked three more times in her memory.
Walsh decided the 2005 walk would be her last.
"It was just so much work to organize it and get everyone downtown," she said.
Then Walsh found a small lump in her breast during an impromptu self-exam in bed.
"It didn't feel right," she said. "I thought, 'That's not supposed to be there.
' "
When the lump didn't go away, she called her doctor. Her greatest fears were confirmed in December 2005. The disease that claimed the life of her mother, Norine Needham, was now coming after her.
"It was very scary. I thought I was going to lose my life," she said. "I told my friends there was no way we could stop walking.
"
While getting chemotherapy treatments at Little Company of Mary Hospital, Walsh met Margie Sweeney, a breast cancer survivor and one of the organizers of the Beverly Breast Cancer Walk.
Walsh was immediately interested.
"It's so much closer to home, and 100 percent of the money goes to our local hospital," she said.
The walk kicked off in 1999 with 25 participants. In May, the Mother's Day event at Ridge Park, 96th Street and Longwood Drive, attracted 5,300 participants and raised $162,000 for the hospital's Cancer Care Center.
The May 13 event will likely follow the trend and be bigger than ever.
For information about how to register or donate, visit www.beverlybreastcancerwalk.org.
Proceeds will benefit Little Company's newly created Comprehensive Breast Health Center. Walk organizers want to purchase a digital mammography machine for the center, which is expected to cost $650,000.
Last year, Walsh and about 400 friends walked as the Racing for Rita team.
They raised $15,000, more than any other group. She'd like to beat her own record on Mother's Day.
Now in remission, Walsh's goal is to fight to find a cure so that she can protect the next generation, including her daughters -- Lauren, 19; Maggie, 16; and Kate, 12.
Walsh said it was the support of her family and friends that made all the difference.
"They got me through everything," she said. "The whole experience is so overwhelming.
"
Speaking of mothers, Colin "Rock" Hovorka thinks his mom, Laura, is the "World's Greatest Mom," staff writer Jim Hook reports.
The 10-year-old Tinley Park boy won first-place in a recent essay contest sponsored by the Tinley Park Park District. In his essay, Rock, a fourth-grader at Helen Keller School, called his mom "special," and said she "wakes us with a kiss and our 'Good Morning' song.
"
Rock describes his mom as a "great cook, nurse, friend, teacher and playmate who sets a good example for my two brothers and I."
"She decorates outside for our birthdays with a banner and balloons," he said. "I love her and would never trade her.
"
For his heart-felt prose, Rock received a corsage for his mom from Hearts Flowers and a $40 gift certificate from Wheatfield Restaurant.
For the record, Rock thinks the world of his dad, Dave, too.
I had no doubt I would hear from fellow movie junkies after last Sunday's column about movies made in the Southland.
Thanks to Paula Everett for informing us that Mount Greenwood Cemetery was a location for the 1984 Emmy-winning made-for-TV movie "The Dollmaker," starring Jane Fonda.
Dave Jebens, a native South Sider now living in Minnesota, mentioned that the recent shooting of "The Express" at Jebens Ace Hardware was the second time the Blue Island store, which was originally owned by his father's cousin, was captured on film. Scenes for an episode of "Early Edition" starring Kyle Chandler ("Friday Nigh Lights") were filmed at the store and nearby Maple Tree Inn.
And Terry La Bella, of Oak Lawn, wins the prize for offering up the most additions to the list and pointing out an error.
I wrote that parts of "Rudy" were filmed at St. Rita High School on Western Avenue.
Actually, two scenes were filmed at the original St. Rita at 6315 S. Claremont Ave.
I stand corrected.
La Bella said the original St. Rita football stadium also was featured in the Kevin Bacon flick "Stir of Echoes," and the old gym at Mount Carmel High School was featured in the 1994 movie "Blue Chips.
"
Parking classic cars in the lot at Janson's Drive In was all it took to convert the A-frame hangout in Beverly into a 1960s destination for "Crime Story." The South Side's own Dennis Farina starred in the 1986 movie and two-season TV show of the same name.
Finally, La Bella was a bit shocked that I forgot this "big one.
" In the opening minutes of "Wayne's World," Garth's AMC Pacer passes the giant Cigar store Indian at 63rd Street and Pulaski Road.
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