Vicki Sadler was just plain tired of saying sorry.

Over the years, many of Sadler's friends, neighbors and acquaintances have been diagnosed with breast cancer and she was no longer willing to simply stand by on the sidelines and watch.

"In my case, I always seemed to be saying: 'I'm so sorry to hear that,' and so I thought, 'Don't just be sorry. Do something about it,'" she said.

So, Sadler and the other members of the Red Hat Riders, a group of women who go out trail riding on their gaited horses, decided to organize a benefit trail ride through Patapsco State Park May 18.

The ride was a fundraising event for the Red Devils, a Baltimore-based nonprofit which supports breast cancer patients and their families throughout Maryland by providing them with much-needed hands-on help.

The Red Hat Riders decided to set up the fundraiser after participating in a benefit trail ride for breast cancer last year organized by a group of Pennsylvania women riders, the Grey Mares. Sadler, however, never made it to the trail ride. Although she was registered and all set to go, tragedy interceded.

"Ironically, I was going to go do the benefit ride, but I was at my friend's funeral that day, who died after having lost her long battle with breast cancer," she said.

Because they all personally knew women who had battled breast cancer, Sadler and her trail riding girlfriends knew they wanted their trail ride to benefit breast cancer patients. They just weren't sure which organization to choose as the beneficiary. Sadler first came across the name the Red Devils after doing an Internet search.

"I found them online. They help take care of patients and their families. They helped them with everyday living: grocery shopping, housecleaning, transportation," she said. "Of course, I found the Susan G. Komen Cancer Fund, and there's a lot to be said for that, but we wanted to find a group that would benefit the most from our involvement because they're grassroots, and they're a local organization."

Women live on in Red Devils

The Red Devils take their name from adriamycin, a breast cancer drug which is bright red in color and is known for its severe and prolonged side effects.

The organization was started by the families of two women, Ginny Schardt and Jessica Cowling, who met and grew close in a cancer support group while undergoing chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Although they both lost their fight with the disease in 2002, their joint experience was the impetus that led their two families to begin the organization.

"It's really the legacy of these two women. The families joined together based on their experiences going through the cancer treatments with their loved ones," said Jan Wilson, executive director of the Red Devils.

Both Cowling and Schardt had a strong network of family members who were around to help them through the really difficult parts of their ordeals, but they also watched as other women tried desperately to manage things all on their own.

And what they saw firsthand while in the hospitals and treatment centers really hit home.

"It's what they saw," said Wilson. ''There were women showing up for chemo getting out of taxi cabs with their toddlers in their arms."

The Red Devils focus on getting basic, non-medical support services to cancer patients and their families: transportation, meals and groceries, and housecleaning.

The organization works with 28 hospitals throughout Maryland and identifies women in need of their services through a network of nurse coordinators, social workers and cancer patient navigators. They contract with more than 40 service providers to get this done, including Brian's Catering and Moveable Feast in Howard County.

In order to keep those services coming, "we fund raise 365, 24-7," said Wilson, with a laugh. She appreciates the involvement of people like Sadler in helping the Red Devils raise money.

"It's not uncommon for someone to call us. ...We're relying on the kindness of strangers, the Blanche DuBois principle if you will. People like Vicki, who raise their hands and say, 'How can I help?' " she said.

Pam Hiro, of Columbia, was eager to join the benefit trail ride. Her younger sister, Robyn Muller, is battling her third recurrence of breast cancer. "Basically, you feel so hopeless; you can't do anything for your loved one and this just makes me feel good," she said.

She sent an e-mail out to everyone she knew as soon as she registered, asking them to sponsor her. Hiro noted -one of her coworkers immediately wrote back, praising the Red Devils.

"They helped her during her chemo treatments," said Hiro. "They sent over Merry Maids to clean and delicious meals."

Although trail riding conditions were muddy and slick due to the recent rain, the benefit trail ride, which took place under the sponsorship of the Maryland League of Horsemen and began at their headquarters in Marriottsville, went off smoothly.

Sadler is pleased with the results and expects to present the Red Devils with a check for over $15,000.

"And that's my message to the larger community, is that you can make a difference. You don't have to be a big organization. People can get together in small groups and have an impact in a real positive way," she said.

The Red Devils will hold their annual Heart and Sole Stroll June 8 in Centennial Park. For more information, go to www.the-red-devils.org.

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