ORONO – At 28, Mathy Matturro is in training for what she says is the most physically challenging thing she’s ever done. But she’s not doing it for herself.

Matturro is planning to walk 39 miles in two days in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Boston in honor of her aunt, who is a survivor of the disease.

“I’m just in it to honor her and try to get the word out about the disease,” Matturro said. “We are far too medically advanced to have something like that still killing people.”

She’s registered to participate in the Avon Foundation walk in Boston in May and is on a mission to raise the required

WALK

$1,800 to participate. The majority of the money raised by the foundation goes toward breast cancer research grants, with the remainder being used for fund raising and management costs.

Matturro said she realizes times are tough and it might not be a good time for some people to donate, but, “It’s not a good time to die of breast cancer either.”‘

To help her raise money, students in the knitting circle she started at Orono High School, along with co-workers and friends, are knitting pink scarves that Matturro can sell.

Ari Dimoulas, 16, is a student at Orono High. As she started to knit a pink scarf Friday afternoon during a meeting of the knitting circle, she explained that breast cancer runs in her family and that her grandmother had died of the disease while her aunt had survived.

Matturro is an educational technician at Orono High School, but also works at Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant in Orono and Stonehouse Caf? in Veazie.

“I have all these other responsibilities and I’ve taken on this race,” Matturro said.

In addition to the support she’s received at the high school, Stonehouse Caf? has allowed her to put out a donation jar wrapped in an explanation of what the money is for and topped with a breast cancer awareness bear.

On her chest, Matturro wears a pin during her shift that encourages patrons to ask how they can help her.

“Almost every person I talk to knows someone who’s been affected by breast cancer,” Matturro said.

She has already started training for the walk, which will take her 26.2 miles the first day and more than 13 the second day. But it’s nothing compared with the devastation caused by finding out her aunt had breast cancer.

Her aunt was in her mid-30s and had two young children when she was diagnosed. She lost all her hair during chemotherapy and ended up having a double mastectomy, Matturro said.

“She still lives in fear that she could get it again at any moment,” she added.

Matturro was a student at the University of Maine when she learned of her aunt’s diagnosis and was far from her family members, who live in New York.

She hopes to surprise her aunt, who doesn’t know yet that Matturro plans to participate in the Avon event.

“She’s a survivor and I’m so proud of her for being able to withstand all that,” Matturro said. “I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”

To donate, visit www.avonwalk.org, stop by Stonehouse Caf?, or e-mail Matturro at MathyMatturro@umit.maine.edu.