By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

A year ago, Louise Hurlbuttsat in a hospital isolation unit, holding a team hat in her hands while friendswalked to raise money in her honor.

This year, Hurlbutt, 67,will speak about her experiences with breast cancer before taking to the roadin the 12^th annual Mary’s Walk in Saco. By her side will be friendand fellow Kennebunk business owner Bonnie Clement, who is undergoing treatmentfor stage 2 breast cancer.

Hurlbutt, who owns HurlbuttDesigns in Kennebunk’s Lower Village, was diagnosed with an aggressive form ofstage 2 breast cancer last year, on the same day her sister was diagnosed withcancer. Clement, 57, was diagnosed in August with the same form of cancer andboth women underwent treatment that included surgery, chemotherapy, radiationand an experimental drug. Using the drug elevated their cure rate to 85percent, Hurlbutt said.

“We are very fortunate thisis our diagnosis,” she said. “We’ve been able to hold on to hope, to say we can do this.”

Hurlbutt and Clement saidthey want to help others by sharing their stories of battling cancer.Emphasizing the importance of early detection through digital mammograms andraising money for research are essential to finding a cure for cancer andsaving lives, they said.

The Kennebunk community,friends, clients and family all have generously donated money to Team Hurlbuttand HB Provisions, many donating in memory of family members with cancer,Hurlbutt said. Team Hurlbutt was the top fundraising team for last year’s eventand brought in $13,900.

All money from Mary’s Walkand the Kerrymen Pub Road Race benefits the Maine Cancer Foundation inPortland. The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at Thornton Academywith registration and a community gathering for life featuring Gov. JohnBaldacci and Hurlbutt.

Mary’s Walk is named forMary Jude Kerry Libby, of Saco who died of cancer on March 7, 1997. Since itsinception, the event has raised more than $1.2 million for cancer research inMaine.

Keeping research money inMaine is an important aspect of the event, said Peter King, manager of specialevents for the cancer foundation.

“It’s local people supporting local research.”

In addition to supporting local research, thecommunity turned out in force to support Hurlbutt and Clement. Hurlbutt saidthat kind of support is needed as patients navigate through a period that isemotionally and physically draining.

“You ride these waves up and down of emotion,” shesaid.

While Hurlbutt was undergoing treatment, a friend created a healinggarden in front of her business. Another friend brought balloons and a dart gunto her house after each chemotherapy session as a fun way to count downtreatments, she said.

Though often left exhausted by treatments, Hurlbuttsaid she chose to embrace the gifts she was given with her cancer diagnosis.After her first treatment, she came home to find an e-mail from her son with aphoto of his newly shaved head. Her son also moved his wife and baby daughterto Maine for three months so Hurlbutt could spend time with them duringtreatment. Her daughter drove from New York City to Maine for each of her mother’schemotherapy treatments.

For Clement, the cancer journey provided gifts in theforms of a renewed friendship and discovery of her strength while facing adifficult situation. A friend who had drifted away is the “biggest gift”because she came back and has stood by Clement’s side since the beginning oftreatment, which is expected to end in August, she said.

Clement said it seemed as if doctors were talkingabout someone else as they explained her cancer diagnosis. After shedding a fewtears, she said she decided to educate herself on treatment options and focuson getting better. She went straight to Hurlbutt for advice and was seeing thesame doctor at Mercy Hospital within days.

“You’ve got to take the bull by the horn and say ‘I’mgoing to be strong for myself,’” Clement said.

Throughout the past year, Clement and Hurlbutt havefound inspiration in stories they hear of other people fighting cancer.Hurlbutt said she will walk in honor of all those who are fighting cancer,especially her friend Beth Suzor, a Kennebunk Savings Bank employee undergoingtreatment.

“It’s grace and gratitude I want to give back topeople,” Hurlbutt said. “Hope has to be the guide for you, you can’t give uphope. Today we’re walking for everyone who has cancer.”

They will also be celebrating.

“I’m celebrating life,” Hurlbutt said. “This is mycelebration of life.”

“It’s also a celebration of where we are with cancertreatment today,” Clement added. “We are survivors of the treatment. We’reliving proof donating money to this cause is critical.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at282-4337, ext. 213.