SACO — Karen Davis was one of the luckier participants ”“ she got to walk in Mary’s Walk Sunday to mark a friend’s triumph over cancer.

“I’m walking for a dear friend, who is a breast cancer survivor,” said Davis, of Biddeford, as she and friend Edie Maynard of Old Orchard Beach affixed their registration numbers on their T-shirts.

There were many reasons for walking in Mary’s Walk on Sunday or running in the Kerrymen 5K. Some take part in the annual event in memory of a family member or friend whose struggle with cancer has ended in death. Others walk in memory of Mary Kerry Libby, for whom the walk is named. She died at age 44 of Burkitt lymphoma in 1997. Others walk for the cancer cause in general ”“ funds generated go to the Maine Cancer Foundation. Still others walk or run because they like the exercise involved ”“ and they know they’re helping someone.

The best part, of course, is that they did it ”“ lots and lots of them. As runners made their way from the Kerrymen Pub down Main Street at high noon, walkers stepped out after them from in front of Thornton Academy. It was a sea of people who may have had individual reasons for stepping up, but were united as they made their way through the route.

At this stage, it’s hard to tell how many took part. Someone working the registration desk said 1,300 walkers had pre-registered, and the run results posted times for 888 runners. But that doesn’t count folks who registered to walk or run on the morning of the event.  In 2014, an estimated 5,000 people took part, raising $300,000 for the cancer cause.

Mary’s Walk was created in 1999 by Gene Libby in memory of his late wife, and traces the route she took on her daily walks. Over time, the event has raised more than $2.2 million for cancer research and programs.

Some walked individually, some formed teams, like Team Dave, in memory of Dave W. Bedard, who died three years ago of lung cancer, said his fiance Patty Theriault of Waterboro. Team Dave was made up of seven relatives and friends and two dogs. Two other friends were ice fishing, taking part in a sport Bedard loved, said Theriault.

Team Dave had raised about $300 for the cause. 

“Every little bit helps,” said Patty’s daughter, Heather Theriault.

Patty Theriault said she’s been walking for her late fiancé for three years, and carries a small urn of his ashes with her on the 2.5-mile course.

Beth Gauthier, Linda Morin and Pat Seavey were walking in memory of their mother and grandmother, Mary Morin, who died of cancer some years ago. 

Patty Chambers was a member of the P&C team, which stands for Paquin and Carroll; the insurance firm has been fielding a team for five years or more.

Bob and Vickie Cronin were back in the walk after a bit of a hiatus. The Saco couple had been regular participants since their three children were small, but a bad knee sidelined Vickie for several years and Bob is back after a stroke a couple of years ago. He said he walked with the family dog as part of his recovery and felt fine taking part in Mary’s Walk. After knee surgery, Vickie is marking her first year back in the walk. And the couple’s youngest son, Nicholas, was taking part too, in the Kerrymen 5K.

“We’re glad to be here,” said Vickie Cronin. “And lets hope the money raised can beat this thing.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected]. Staff writer Liz Gotthelf contributed to this report.