Breast cancer benefit rolls into Rochester

As a sign beckons customers and their contributions, Elaine Conway's team, most from GM Nameplate in Dover, wash a car in front of Spaulding High on Saturday. Right, Conway and Luis Pena on the job. (Harrison Thorp photos)

ROCHESTER - Two of Elaine Conway’s co-workers at GM Nameplate in Dover, N.H., have fought battles with breast cancer.

Now their fight is her fight. 

Conway led a group of energetic car washers on Saturday in front of Spaulding High School as they raised money for Making Strides, a major fund-raiser for breast cancer treatment and research.

Her two colleagues’ battle with the disease included chemo and radiation, she said. They both asked Conway to be a team leader last year, and she said she was thrilled to do it again this year.

Conway said the people of Rochester supported her wonderfully on Saturday and that within an hour of setting up around 10 a.m. they’d already washed five cars.

“It’s whatever you want to donate and they have been very generous, plus a lot of our supplies were all donated, too,” she said.

Her team will be back in Rochester next Saturday for a bake sale fund-raiser from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lilac Mall.

GM Nameplate of Dover makes decorative emblems for cars and appliances, Conway said.

October is National Breast Cancer Month, and the fund-raising activities will be highlighted with an October 20 walk beginning at 9 a.m. at Henry Law Park in Dover.