A Bermudian whose grandmother, mother and brother-in-law all died of cancer will walk 40 kilometres to raise $5,000 to help find a cure for the disease.

And Shirley Daniels-Layne?s sister was also diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago which is now thankfully in remission.

?That is the real motivation behind this,? Mrs. Daniels-Layne said this week.

?It?s quite personal.?

She will leave Bermuda this week for her home in the US and begin training for the two-day Avon Foundation breast cancer walk held in New York City on the weekend of October 1.

The Avon Foundation is a global breast cancer charity which said a person dies of breast cancer every 14 minutes.

From 1992 to 2004, it raised and donated $350 million in 50 countries world-wide for medical research, access to treatment and screening, support centres and education, its web-site said.

?Avon really do reach the disadvantaged,? Mrs. Daniels-Layne said. ?Bermudians also have access to their facilities and literature.?

She said she will try to raise as much money as she can by October.

In order to participate in the walk she must raise $1,800 for the Avon Foundation, however, her goal is to raise $5,000 and give the remainder to local cancer charity PALS.

Those who wish to assist her on the walk should call Theresa Cameron at 747-7272 or Suzanne Roberts-Holshowser MP at 799-3110 for more information.

?PALS helped my grandmother, mother and brother-in-law,? Mrs. said. ?The disease is quite prevalent. You can talk to four people and three of them will have similar stories, with either a mother or a friend being affected. This is why we have to find a cure. I feel like I m doing the easy part and they are doing the hard part.?