From Tewksbury, Massachusetts, one woman makes jewelry to sponsor herself in marathon walks to raise money in the fight against breast cancer. She also works full time, is writing a dissertation for her doctorate, and still trains for her walks (and I’m sure somewhere in all this has time for family and friends).
The art of fundraising
By Linda Kush/ Staff Writer
Thursday, August 3, 2006 - Updated: 08:29 AM ESTOne afternoon last summer, Heather Maietta trudged along on aching, tired feet. Cranky and exhausted, she wondered what she could have been thinking when she decided to do this. It was the first day of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, and the 22-mile leg was almost done.
“I was so tired I didn’t even eat dinner, and I said to myself, ’I’m never doing this again,’” she said. “Then three days later after the closing ceremonies, I walked right over to the tent and signed up for next year.”
Although that first day was tough, the 60-mile walk over three days got easier. Every two miles, children and cancer survivors shouted support from the roadside. At night, she and hundreds of other walkers slept in a tent compound. The 34-year-old Tewksbury resident reveled in the sense of community and was proud that she had raised the required $2,100 to do the walk. The funds would help find a cure for breast cancer.
“It’s one of the most positive experiences I’ve ever had,” she said.
In fact, it was so positive that she’s doing it again this weekend, Aug. 4, 5 and 6.
But this time, raising the money seemed more daunting. It didn’t feel right to go back to the same friends and relatives for contributions.
Then she had the idea to let her jewelry raise the money for her.
Maietta designs jewelry and sells it at craft fairs, on her Web site and in places like Touch of Elegance salon in Tewksbury. Clusters of beads in subtle colors decorate her bracelets, necklaces, earrings and watches.
“I started out making jewelry for my sisters and for myself, and people would buy it off my body,” she said, extending a tanned arm to display a bracelet of aqua, green and clear glass beads. Someone would compliment her on a bracelet, and when she said she made it, they would ask her to make one for them. “But I could never make the exact same thing, so I would just take it off my wrist and sell it to them right there,” she said.
Her hobby grew into a business, heather M design.
She created a special line of jewelry to raise money for this year’s Breast Cancer 3-Day. Proceeds go toward the $2,200 she needs for the walk, and each piece with its pink ribbon motif raises more than just money.
“If someone is wearing jewelry with a pink ribbon, it raises awareness,” she said. “Raising the money is the hardest part, but doing it in conjunction with my business makes it a no-brainer.”
It’s a wonder she could find any time to do all that’s on her plate. In addition to making jewelry and selling it at craft shows on weekends, she works full time for the Arlington Department of Recreation while writing a dissertation for her doctorate in Education Administration and Community Leadership.
“The busier I am, the better I am, the more organized I am with my time,” she said.
Maietta was moved to do something for breast cancer research after her grandmother had a mastectomy that left her with limited use of her arm due to nerve damage.
“I have two sisters and a niece. I did it for them, my grandmother, my mother and myself.”
Maietta walks with a team, Wild Women Originals, 200 members who do fundraising walks and other activities to promote breast cancer research. Since 2002, they have raised over $1.9 million. Last year Maietta organized a craft fair with her team to help others raise money for the walk.
Lynn Ostberg, a WWO team captain, said, “With all the craft shows she does, Heather always has information about our team. More people find us through her.”
Maietta began preparing for this weekend’s walk last fall. She trains about 35 miles a week, not only for general fitness, but to toughen her feet so she can walk 60 miles over three days without blisters.
“Getting ready for this walk is like when I was planning my wedding,” she said, married to a Watertown firefighter.
“All the preparation, raising the money was difficult and the training is difficult. But it’s exciting now that it’s really happening. I look forward to doing it at last.”
