Heading towards personal success Amy Eckman 43, of Auburn says that she, for long had wanted to do it. And it’s not for charity she says but for her own self. Having lost a best friend to breast cancer 13 years ago, Eckman, this year has recruited one more friend to the cause.

Thousands like Eckman are actively participating in the 2010 Susan G. Komen Boston 3-Day for the treatment. One of them being Downey, whose first participation is noted to be on the triathlon in 1999, has been joining the cause in honor of her mom who died of bladder cancer.

Accompanying 1,600 walkers and 375 volunteers, the seventh three-day Boston walk instigated on Friday, at the Farm Pond in Framingham.

A minimum of $2,300 had to be raised by each walker in order to be eligible for participation. Jeene Jenne Fromm, the National Spokeswoman for Susan G. Komen 3-Day anticipates that people walk out of their homes and cheer these people up; they’ll feel motivated she says.

Facing 90-degree weather, the walkers look content as they finally are able to do, what they have always wanted to do. This event, reportedly has earned more than $500 million in 15 cities around the Country.

Showers and thunderstorms did not seem to have any effect on these walkers, since they have the love and support of all the supporters, cancer survivors and the ones combating with it.

Downey, who underwent mammosite therapy 2 years ago, is doing great now. She says "A diagnosis of breast cancer is not like it used to be”.