'Tuni's Triumph' walk will raise money to fight lung cancer

In 2009 Marty Speck (married, and now Marty Rubin) was looking forward to retiring and moving to Pawley's Island, S.C. after working for ComEd for more than 30 years. She and her husband, David, had bought their dream home there and were ready to join several friends who had already moved to S.C. from the Chicago suburbs.

In late summer that year she was diagnosed with lung cancer. She fought a 20-month battle before passing away in April 2011.

In 2010, while Marty was undergoing treatment at her home in Pawley's Island, S.C., she was determined to increase awareness of lung cancer and organized a Free to Breathe walk she called “Tuni's Triumph” (years earlier, her niece and nephew called her Tuni and the nickname stuck).

To carry on her desire to help others in their quest to raise awareness of the disease and generate funding for vital research over the past two years, family and friends have organized and participated in walks in South Carolina, and this year added a walk in Rolling Meadows.

The walk, “Tuni's Triumph 3,” is taking place on Saturday, Aug. 11. The walk will start at 9 a.m. at Flory's Park on Campbell Drive in Rolling Meadows. The walk will be an approximate three-mile loop, through the area near where Marty grew up, ending back at Flory's Park.

Marty's mom, Mary Speck, has lived in Rolling Meadows since 1954 where she raised Marty and her two brothers. Mary is well-known throughout the city, having worked at various stores in the city before going to work for the Rolling Meadows Police Department for 15 years,

Mary and her family would like others to know that lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer of American men and women; each year it kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers combined.

Marty's family invites you to join them Saturday, Aug. 11, adding, “Helping those affected by lung cancer is a priority to all of us and we need everyone's support to make a difference.”

To register for the walk (there is $15 registration fee) or make a donation, visit the website, www.freetobreathe.org. All proceeds will go to the Free to Breathe organization to fund research and awareness for lung cancer. You are also able to register the day of the walk.