Local businesswomen walk for a cure

Local businesswomen Jennifer Holcombe and Jessica Jones are sisters and best friends who last year teamed up for the biggest physical challenge of their lives — participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York City.

Walking Miles to Help Others By Lisa Monti Originally published in the Aug/Sep 2010 issue of 850 Magazine

Local businesswomen Jennifer Holcombe and Jessica Jones are sisters and best friends who last year teamed up for the biggest physical challenge of their lives — participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in New York City.

Their goal was to walk a marathon and a half — 39.3 miles — to raise a total of $5,400 through pledges and fundraising efforts. Their mutual motivation? To do something positive with their lives to help save the lives of others. The outcome? They raised $5,611.

Now they are well into training and raising funds for their second Avon Walk this fall in Santa Barbara, Cal.

Both say the whole experience last year — the training, fundraising and walking — was strenuous but satisfying.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Jones, broker/owner of Compass Realty of Florida. “It was challenging, but we completed all the miles both days.”

Added Holcombe, who owns The Promotions Chick advertising specialty firm: “The walk was exciting, fun, satisfying and difficult all at the same time.”

The sisters and their friend Jennifer Goldsby, who all live in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, got together under the banner of DESTINation Cure and set out to prepare for the walk.

“The unknown was the thing that made me so nervous,” Holcombe said. “But it’s a piece of cake compared to what women with breast cancer go through.”

The sisters are again raising money through the sale of merchandise and donations while training for the California walk.

“I have to say that I feel so very lucky to be able to participate in these events,” Holcombe said. “My sister is my best friend and it’s really fun to do this with her. We have heard so many stories of sisters loosing sisters and it really hits home. We are all here to help each other and by helping others we help ourselves.”

The women are focused on their ultimate goal — to walk in the Avon Walks held in nine cities across the country.

To donate or volunteer, go to their website, destination-cure.com.