Walpole woman wins national award from American Cancer Society

 WALPOLE, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- For the last 17 years, Carol Wise of Walpole has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery program, which pairs breast cancer survivors with women who have been newly diagnosed.  This year, she's being recognized for her outstanding work in the program with the Therese Lasser award, an award named for the woman who inspired Reach to Recovery.

Leaders of the Maine chapter of the American Cancer Society say Wise has taken the program to a new level in her community.  Traditionally, the program involves one visit to a patient.  But Wise often forms lifelong relationships with the women she meets and works with them through their breast cancer experience and beyond.

"I'm very passionate about this," says Wise, "It's a horrible diagnosis, and we aren't at a cure yet.  But that's not to say that it's not going to happen, and if you can be a person that instills a sense of hope then you have done something."

Wise is also the driving force behind Damariscotta's annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk -- a fundraiser that has brought in more than one million dollars for breast cancer research, advocacy and support programs.

Beyond the money that's raised each year, Wise works hard to make sure the event is a source of support and inspiration to all who attend.  She recounts this story from this year's walk, "There was a woman who said to me, 'I was just diagnosed seven days ago... I'm not a survivor yet.'  And I said, 'Yes you are.  The day you decide that you are going to do something about getting rid of this, you are a survivor.'"