Do The 2 Walker Spotlight: Rochelle “Shelly” Bloom

Bloom Where You Are Planted: Shelly Bloom and Team Breastini Still Going Strong for Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer

By Lauren Godinez and Wendy Alpine

Shelly Bloom spreads her enthusiasm like a bee pollinating a flower. Wherever she goes, she leaves her mark. At age 61, she is an/the owner and designer of a glass company, a senior real estate consultant and budding comedienne who performs at assisted living facilities. She also is a dedicated volunteer, crew member and walker for the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer since it began in 2003.

She now walks for Team Breastini’s, which has over 20 members and also includes her daughter, Stacy Gardella, 36, as team captain.

Shelly, a resident of Hochston (near Lawrenceville), continues to walk because both her mother and sister were diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother was diagnosed when she was 55 and passed away at 63, while her sister was diagnosed at age 36 and passed away at age 44, after also being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Breastini’s will host the 4th Annual Lunch & Silent Auction benefiting the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer at Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, on Fri. Aug. 14 at 11:30 a.m. “I also ask members of my adult active community to support me,” she said. The team raised $25,000 last year and hopes to top $30,000 this year.

While she does attend the 2-Day’s annual kickoff 10-mile training walk, Shelly enjoys training on her own as well. She’s also keeping up with the 2-Day through its Facebook profile.

What’s her favorite part of the Walk? “I like that more money goes back to the local community and we walk through terrific neighborhoods – some that I was not even familiar with before,” Shelly said.

This year’s Walk will take place on Oct. 3-4 through Atlanta, with a lunch stop at beautiful Agnes Scott College. Come out this summer for the July 18 Beat the Heat training walk at Lenox Square and the Aug. 29 Atlanta Health and Wellness EXPO also at Lenox Square. For more information, call 404-531-4111 or visit www.2daywalk.org.