Two years ago, Lake Katherine resident Latan Chambers Cox was fighting for her life after being diagnosed with breast cancer. On August 30, Cox, along with 175 fellow walkers, will be celebrating life.

The 5K run/walk event, called Hammond's Path to the Walk for Life, to be held on the south campus of Hammond School, is a precursor to the First Ladies' Walk for Life, which will be held October 3 in Finlay Park.

Cox is not only heading up Sunday's walk, she, along with Elaine Cleary, is co- chairing the First Ladies' affair. She said Sunday's event is designed to get Hammond families excited about the main event and to bring awareness to the often- deadly disease.

"One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in South Carolina this year," she said. "It has touched everyone's lives, including several at Hammond, and getting everyone involved in this walk — including families and children — is going to work towards greater awareness."

Cox, an alumnae with a son, Jordan, attending the school, is being assisted by Hammond junior Annie Richardson, whose mother succumbed to the disease about seven years ago.

"My mother was really big into instilling the idea of helping others and this is something I felt I could do," Richardson said. "And it's also a cause that's doing amazing things to help people, so I wanted to get involved."

Richardson and her family, who moved to Columbia five years ago, have participated in the walk each year, but this year Richardson will have an added incentive with Sunday's Hammond event. The two hope to raise about $1,000 at the preliminary walk, and the goal is even loftier for the three- mile Finlay Park affair,which netted about $360,000 last year for cancer education, research, and support for patients and their families.

"The walk has grown from 200 participants in 1990 to more than 7,000 last year," Cox said. "The great news is that all the money stays in the Columbia area." It's not too late to attend the Hammond event, which starts at 4:30 pm at the Charles Black Cross Country Course on Hammond's south campus. The cost is $25 per entry.

In addition, on Sunday, Groucho's Deli, Baskin Robbins Ice Cream, and Strobler Furniture, all located on Forest Drive, are participating in a related fundraiser, Cox said.

Twenty percent of the proceeds gathered from 5 pm until closing Sunday will go towards funding the Hammond Skyhawk team at the October 3 event.

"We are inviting everyone who participates or attends the walk to come over and eat at Groucho's and Baskin Robbins and shop at Strobler's," she said.

Teams are being formed for the October 3 walk with the deadline for submission September 11, but those wanting to walk as individuals can register up to the day of the walk.

More information can be found online at www.palmet toheal thfoundation. org. Those wishing to sponsor Cox and her walkers should register online under the name Hammond Skyhawks/ Latan Cox team.