Kingfish swimmers include Cam Crowell, Patrick O’Neal, and Drew Husted.
Globe South People
Soul Sisters on the move to help others
Kingfish swimmers include Cam Crowell, Patrick O’Neal, and Drew Husted.
They are a group of women who like to walk - and help others by doing so.
The Soul Sisters of Kingston have raised more than $150,000 in the past four years for research into breast and ovarian cancer, and for various causes in Kingston. This year’s 2nd annual Turkey Trot fund-raiser is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 9 a.m., with check-in starting at 7:15 a.m. at the Hilltop Athletic Club, 65 Pottle St.
Five years ago, seven female friends got together for a walk to raise money for a new playground at Gray’s Beach.
“We made great friendships and had fun doing it, and then thought ‘Hey, we’re good at this,’ ’’ said Jen Whidden, one of the group’s founders. “The following year we did the three-day Susan B. Komen breast cancer walk and raised $15,000.’’
They became The Soul Sisters, a group now numbering 17, and began a quest to raise money for women’s health issues and the community. Two years ago, it got personal when member Paula Cazeault was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“So that became our cause for 2008 and this year,’’ said Whidden, adding that Cazeault’s cancer is in remission. “Last year’s first Turkey Trot raised more than $11,000 and more than 450 racers showed up. It was a huge hit.’’
They expect 650 entrants at the 5K run/walk event, which is being sponsored by Lemon Lime Salon in Cohasset, the Visiting Angels of Plymouth, and Marty’s GMC of Kingston. Solstice Restaurant in Kingston is sponsoring the Turkey Runner, who runs the race in a turkey costume. This year, that runner is Geoff Daly, husband of member Jill Daly. Top prize in each of eight categories? A turkey.
Half of the proceeds from this year’s race will go to the Dana-Farber Dr. Ursula Matulonis Research and Awareness Fund for Ovarian Cancer, and the other half will go to the Kingston Council on Aging and the Kingston Women’s Shelter for the Plymouth Coalition for the Homeless.
For information and to register for the race, visit www.soulsisterfoundation.org or contact Jill Daly at 781-801-5526.
SWIMMERS ON LAND FOR A CAUSE: Members of the Duxbury-based Kingfish Swimming club are raking area lawns through November to raise money to pay for training with Olympic gold medalist Dara Torres in Florida in late December. Teams of students at the club are offering their raking and landscaping services in exchange for a donation.
Duxbury resident and Kingfish swimmer Patrick O’Neal said being a member of the private club, which offers training to young swimmers, is helpful when students apply to colleges. “Swimming has opened many doors to what others consider ‘reach’ schools in the search process,’’ he said.
Kingfish Swimming, created in 2003 with 12 youngsters, now has more 120 athletes ranging in age from seven through 18. They practice at the Kingsbury Club on the Duxbury/Kingston line. The team is led by Jay Craft, head coach of the Duxbury High School varsity swimming team; a member of the 1993 NCAA Division I All-American Swim Team; and a former Boston Globe Coach of the Year.
To arrange a cleanup by team members, contact Craft at 617-797-8653 or jcraft@kingfishswimming.com.
TOPS IN TALKING IT UP: The Sacred Heart High School Speech and Debate team has placed in the top 10 percent of National Forensic League chapters nationwide. That puts the team in the league’s “100 Club,’’ having achieved more than 100 degrees in competition to earn the recognition. In a letter to team’s coach, Dan Sapir, the league said that this recognition “is important because it demonstrates your program’s commitment to teaching essential life skills: communication, research, listening, writing and organization to a large number of students.’’ The team also earned a Leading Chapter Award for the New England district, making it one of 105 schools nationwide to receive the award.
CANCER SURVIVOR SPEAKS: Sean Swarner - two-time cancer survivor, author, and the only known cancer survivor to have climbed the world’s highest mountains - is presenting his story at “Keep Climbing - Celebration of Life,’’ Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Quincy Marriott, 1000 Marriott Drive. Swarner has climbed the “Seven Summits’’ of the world, the highest peaks on each continent, and did so after surviving Hodgkin’s disease and Askin’s sarcoma. Register for the free talk by calling 781-682-0583 or e-mailing marketing@atriushealth.org.
Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at Kandarian@globe.com 
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