Delta Flight Attendants Snowshoe Coast to Coast to Fight Breast Cancer

The three woman team of flight attendants will raise money to fight breast cancer through the Tubbs Romp to Stomp Series.

(STOWE, Vermont) - A trio of flight attendants from Delta Airlines has taken up the cause to fight breast cancer and is on a mission to participate in all of Tubbs Romp to Stomp Series national snowshoe events this winter.

Presented by Tubbs Snowshoes, the five event national snowshoe series kicked off at Mountain Creek Resort in Vernon, New Jersey in late January and continues through March, with the final event scheduled for Frisco Nordic Center in Frisco, Colorado.

The three woman team of flight attendants, Vivian Peplinski, Joni Gagnon, and Mary Wood, had originally planned to hit all five sites in New Jersey, Utah, Vermont, Oregon and Colorado, but unfortunately had to bow out of the Vermont event due to scheduling conflicts.

For Peplinski, participating in this series is more than just championing a great cause, "I have two very dear aunts who are breast cancer survivors -- they are twins and were diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time," said Peplinski. "I knew I wanted to do something to support continuing research to stomp out breast cancer."

After seeing the schedule for the 2008 series, Peplinski and her friends made the commitment to participate in all of the events - with the exception of Stratton, VT., due to a prior commitment.

"But next year, I plan to hit them all!" While they are never in one place long enough to receive pledges or put together a larger team, the three women have joined forces with other women at each of the snowshoe events to form informal teams and friendships as they snowshoe together over the 3 km or 5 km course at each site.

Now in its seventh year, Tubbs Romp to Stomp Series benefits local Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, donating 75 percent of event proceeds to grants that focus on breast cancer screening, education and treatment in the event areas as well as 25 percent to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® national grant program which supports national research and education projects.

The Romp to Stomp Series consists of a 3 km fun race, and 3 km or 5 km snowshoe walk, and is open to all ages and abilities. Pre event registration is $25 per person; day of registration is $30. Snowshoes are available on a first come, first serve basis.

To date, more than 1,025 people have participated in this year’s event series which has raised over $96,000 in donations and pledges with two remaining events. The three women will be in attendance this Saturday at the Romp which takes place at the White River West Sno-Park in Mount Hood, Oregon. Nearly 200 people are already pre registered to participate to date, with day of registration available on site.