The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Three-Day is a series of a dozen 60-mile walks to raise money to fight breast cancer. The first walk begins in Boston on Aug. 3 and the last one ends in San Diego, Calif. on Nov. 11. Amesbury families are preparing to participate in both of them.

On top of a $90 registration fee, participants are required to raise $2,200 in order to be part of the walk. Although it's not nearly an inexpensive three days, a number of Amesbury residents have made the pledge to raise the required funds and take part.

Amesbury native Lisa Saraiva took part in the walk last year, and it inspired her mother, Lori, so much that they will both be a part of the Boston leg of the project that begins on Friday, Aug. 3.

"I chose to do it this year because my daughter did it last year, and when I met her at the closing ceremonies I was so inspired by the people I met," Lori Saraiva said. "There was an overwhelming feeling of hope and inspiration."

One particular moment that stuck out in her mind was during the closing ceremony. "I recall one of the survivors standing up to be acknowledged, and she was pregnant," Lori Saraiva said. "On her shirt it said 'thank-you' and that was just a very special moment."

Helen Nadeau, also an Amesbury resident, will make the walk for the second year in a row, along with her daughter, Lisa Nadeau.

Last year they walked the Boston leg of the tour, and although they were able to raise more than $11,000, they will not be returning. Instead, they will be traveling 2,500-plus miles across the country to San Diego for the last stop of the walk.

"Last year we walked Boston and this year we wanted to try something different," Helen Nadeau said. "My daughter has always wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo, so we said, 'Why not,' so we will be going to California in November."

Helen and Lisa Nadeau, who this year will be joined by friend Melissa Bernier for the walk, plan on paying their own way entirely to get to San Diego, saying that all of the money that they raise will go directly to the Susan. G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that funds research on breast cancer.

Helen Nadeau, who in October will mark nine years as a breast cancer survivor, also said that the closing ceremonies of the walk were very moving.

She said that walkers met at the Expo Center in Boston. Walkers wore navy blue T-shirts and survivors wore pink T-shirts, as they were greeted by loud applause from spectators. "It was a very special feeling and we are looking forward to the walk this year," Helen Nadeau stated.

All of these participants have been preparing themselves, both mentally and physically for the walk. Lori Saraiva said that she walks three to four miles a day during the week, and seven to 10 on the weekends.

Helen Nadeau also added, "I've been walking daily; many, many miles."

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Three-Day Walk begins in Boston. There are also three-day walks in Chicago (Aug. 10-12), Cleveland (Aug. 17-19), Minneapolis/St. Paul (Aug. 24-26), Seattle (Sept. 7-9), Philadelphia (Oct. 5-7), Atlanta (Oct. 12-14), Tampa Bay (Oct. 19-21), Dallas/Fort Worth (Oct. 26-28) and, finally, San Diego (Nov. 9-11). There are also walks planned in Michigan (Sept. 28-30) and Arizona (Nov. 2-4), although exact routes are still being developed. For more information, visit www.the3day.org.