Walk for a Cure Crosses Southeastern Connecticut With Four Routes and One Finish Line

Walk for a Cure Crosses Southeastern Connecticut With Four Routes and One Finish Line Oct. 3, when hundreds of walkers spread out across the shoreline for distances ranging from a family-friendly 5K to a full 26.2-mile walking marathon — all ultimately converging on Camp Harkness in Waterford.

This is the 21st annual Walk for a Cure from the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation, and understanding how it works requires looking beyond the single location shown on many event calendars.

There isn’t one starting line.

The full marathon begins in Old Saybrook at 7 a.m. The half marathon begins later in East Lyme at 10 a.m. The quarter marathon joins the route in Niantic at 1 p.m. And the family-friendly 5K begins between 2 and 2:30 p.m. within Camp Harkness and neighboring Harkness Memorial State Park.

The distances are different. The fundraising commitments are different. Even the morning alarm clocks are very different.

But everyone is walking for the same purpose.

26.2 Miles Across the Connecticut Shoreline

The centerpiece of the event remains something unusual in the world of charity walks: an actual walking marathon.

Full-marathon participants gather at Saybrook Point for opening ceremonies beginning at 6:40 a.m. At 7, they start the 26.2-mile journey east.

The route leaves Old Saybrook, crosses the Connecticut River on the Baldwin Bridge pedestrian walkway and continues through Old Lyme before reaching East Lyme and Rocky Neck State Park.

From there, the course continues through Niantic and into Waterford, eventually entering Harkness Memorial State Park and Camp Harkness.

Organizers build an extensive support system around the distance. Nine pit stops are positioned along the route, with nursing staff available, while bicyclists patrol the course and a support vehicle can move walkers forward if they need assistance.

This isn’t designed as a race. But it does require preparation.

TBBCF plans the course around approximately a 14- to 20-minute-per-mile walking pace, and the organization holds supported training walks in the months leading up to the event.

For people who don’t have 26.2 miles in them, the structure makes it possible to join the same journey farther down the road.

Pick a Distance, Then Find Your Starting Line

The half marathon begins at 10 a.m. on Capitol Drive in East Lyme.

Those walkers enter the course near Rocky Neck, travel through the state park and continue along the shoreline through Niantic before following the marathon route toward Waterford.

The quarter marathon begins at 1 p.m. at Niantic Baptist Church, 443 Main Street in Niantic. From there, walkers continue east toward the Niantic River, through Waterford and eventually into Harkness.

The family-friendly 5K stays much closer to the finish. On-site registration begins at 2 p.m., with a flexible start between 2 and 2:30 p.m. The 5K takes place within Camp Harkness and Harkness Memorial State Park.

That last option is particularly important for families.

Children under 12 aren’t permitted on the longer road routes because of safety concerns, but they are welcome to participate in the 5K. Walkers ages 12 through 17 can participate in the longer distances when accompanied by an adult.

No matter where participants begin, the day’s center of gravity eventually shifts to Camp Harkness.

Why This Walk Sends Every Fundraising Dollar to Research

The Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation grew out of the experiences of three women.

Terri Brodeur was a young mother of three who died from breast cancer in 2005 after a two-year battle with the disease. Her friends Norma Logan and Sandy Maniscalco created the foundation after becoming frustrated by how much money raised for breast cancer causes could be consumed by expenses rather than research.

Logan was also living with breast cancer.

She died in April 2006, six months after Brodeur.

The organization they started adopted an unusually straightforward promise: 100 percent of gross fundraising dollars goes directly to breast cancer research.

TBBCF says it accomplishes that by covering administrative expenses through sponsorships and volunteer services rather than taking those costs from money raised by walkers.

Since 2006, the New London-based foundation reports raising more than $7.2 million and awarding more than 70 research grants supporting basic, preclinical and clinical breast cancer research.

The annual walk is its largest fundraiser.

Last year’s 20th anniversary walk drew 443 walkers from 16 states and had raised $578,483 by late November. Eighty-six people participated in the 5K alone.

For 2026, the foundation has set an overall Walk for a Cure fundraising goal of $500,000.

The Miles Come With a Fundraising Commitment

This isn’t a conventional road race where paying an entry fee completes the obligation.

Participants are fundraising.

The commitment varies with the distance: full-marathon walkers commit to raising $500, half-marathon walkers $250, quarter-marathon walkers $200 and 5K walkers $150.

Cancer survivors and students have a reduced $100 fundraising commitment.

Walkers don’t have to arrive Oct. 3 with every dollar already collected. Fundraising remains open through Dec. 31, and participants receive individual fundraising pages that can be shared with friends, relatives and coworkers.

Teams can also raise money together.

For those who can’t participate in person, TBBCF offers a virtual option with a $150 fundraising commitment. Virtual participants can walk, run, swim or bike on their own schedule and have through the end of the year to complete their miles.

Everyone Eventually Arrives at Camp Harkness

By afternoon, the scattered starting points begin to make sense.

The event isn’t really built around where everyone begins.

It’s built around where they end.

Camp Harkness becomes the finish-line gathering place for walkers, families, volunteers and supporters. This year, Azalea Drive is scheduled to perform live from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., with complimentary food for walkers and their families along with games and activities for children.

The closing ceremony begins at 3:45 p.m.

Supporters don’t have to walk at all to become part of that portion of the day. TBBCF is encouraging family members, friends and community members to bring lawn chairs, gather near the finish and cheer as walkers arrive.

After 26.2 miles, that’s probably a sound worth hearing.

The Walk for a Cure takes place rain or shine, although organizers may cancel for a significant weather event such as a hurricane, nor’easter or flooding.

Shuttle buses will return participants from Camp Harkness to the various starting locations, with the first scheduled departure at 2:30 p.m. and another after the closing ceremony at approximately 4:15 p.m.

Registration for the 2026 walk remains open until noon Wednesday, Sept. 30.

More information is available at the Event Website link below. To participate, use the Event Registration link below.

Details

Event: 21st Annual Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation Walk for a Cure
Date: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
Format: Full marathon, half marathon, quarter marathon, family-friendly 5K and virtual participation
Finish: Camp Harkness, Waterford

Full Marathon — 26.2 miles: Opening ceremonies at 6:40 a.m.; walk begins at 7 a.m. at Saybrook Point in Old Saybrook; $500 fundraising commitment

Half Marathon — 13.1 miles: Begins at 10 a.m. on Capitol Drive in East Lyme; $250 fundraising commitment

Quarter Marathon — approximately 6.5 miles: Begins at 1 p.m. at Niantic Baptist Church, 443 Main Street, Niantic; $200 fundraising commitment

Family-Friendly 5K — 3.1 miles: On-site registration at 2 p.m.; flexible start between 2 and 2:30 p.m.; route within Camp Harkness and Harkness Memorial State Park; $150 fundraising commitment

Walk for a Cure FAQ’s
Students and Cancer Survivors: $100 fundraising commitment
Virtual Participants: $150 fundraising commitment; choose your own activity, distance and schedule
Long-Route Minimum Age: 12; ages 12–17 must walk with an adult
Children Under 12: Welcome in the family-friendly 5K but not permitted on the longer road routes
Pets: Not permitted on the walk routes or at closing ceremonies
Weather: Rain or shine; significant severe weather may cause cancellation and there is no rain date
Course Support: Nine pit stops, medical support, cycling support and assistance vehicle
Shuttles: Return transportation from Camp Harkness to starting locations; first shuttle at 2:30 p.m. and another at approximately 4:15 p.m.
Live Music: Azalea Drive, 1:30–3:30 p.m. at the finish
Closing Ceremony: 3:45 p.m.
Registration Deadline: Noon Wednesday, Sept. 30
Fundraising Deadline: Dec. 31
Foundation Contact: 860-437-1400
Email: info@tbbcf.org

 

Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.