Staff from the Bermuda Department of Tourism will walk through Central Park next month in an effort to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

About ten people from the New York office have signed up for the five-kilometre walk in honour of their colleague Gina Luna, who successfully battled the disease nine years ago.

Leading the charge are Mrs Luna’s daughter, Karee Reese Luna, and her best friend Alexis Bean.

Alexis’ mother Tammy died of brain cancer just days before her 18th birthday.

The pair started Resolution Women Empowerment as a result of their mothers’ health battles. The group inspires young women to focus on their goals and raises awareness of women’s health issues. Seventeen people will walk under the ResolutionWE banner as part of the American Cancer Society fundraiser on October 19. They are hoping to contribute $5,000 to the cause.

A total of 60,000 people are expected to participate.

“I was still in the first year of high school in Bermuda when we found out my mother had a lump on her breast,” said Karee. “It was under her armpit. At first, we thought it was a cyst from her deodorant, but it kept on growing.”

Doctors eventually diagnosed her as having breast cancer. Mrs Luna was 41 at the time, and had no history of the disease in her family.

“She was in Puerto Rico, on business for the Bermuda Department of Tourism, when the results came through,” said Karee. “She was immediately flown to New York City and was undergoing cancer treatment within two days of the diagnosis.”

Mrs Luna worked in the Bermuda Tourism office for nine years before relocating to the New York department in 2002.

Karee said she and her sister, Lia, stayed brave during their mother’s treatment, but afterwards suffered depression from the trauma of the experience.

“That’s one reason Alexis and I wanted to form ResolutionWE,” Miss Luna said. “Alexis and I have been friends forever and Alexis’ mother died of brain cancer in 2009. We wanted young women to know that whatever happens, they have a future. It is important to stay focused.”

Alexis is now a junior reinsurance analyst at Validus Reinsurance in Bermuda; Karee is a fashion designer and illustrator in New York City.

The loss of her mother really changed her perspective on life, Alexis said.

“I feel like there is no reason we all shouldn’t take a personal stance on things that we feel are important,” she said. “I know plenty of people who have been affected by breast cancer so why shouldn’t I stand and raise awareness for this.”

For more information on the walk visit makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_CY14_FindAnEvent.

For information on ResolutionWE visit www.resolutionwe.com, send an e-mail to resolutionwe@gmail.com or find them on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram under ResolutionWE.