HAMMOND | Starr Goodalle, of Chicago, was ready to walk for the cure, rain or no rain.

Goodalle, a breast cancer survivor, walked in the rain in Fox Lake, Ill., on Saturday to raise money for breast cancer research, and on Sunday she and her brother, George Cochran, were at Purdue University Calumet for the Northwest Indiana Walk MS, sponsored annually by the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

"We brought our rain gear," Goodalle said. They walk for their brother-in-law, Rich Fontanetta, who has MS.

But Goodalle and Cochran would not walk Sunday due to the weather. At first, officials decided to move the event to the indoor walking track at Purdue's fitness and recreation center. But when leaks were found within the building, they decided conditions was too treacherous to continue.

"We're just going to have a big party," said Dawn Czarnik, who is the chapter's community development manager.

Despite the weather, walkers and walking teams had started showing up in droves as soon as registration opened. Even as they did so, water tracked in from the outside made the floor more slippery than usual. A DJ playing music on the southeast side of the gym warned volunteers and participants to "be careful." Weather permitting, walkers would have had their choice of two different routes, 2.6 miles or 1.3 miles, around Hammond.

There were 1,100 walkers signed up, either individually or in teams, before the event, and even with all the rain officials were still getting walk-ins, Czarnik said.

Since the event had been canceled, walkers were being asked to turn in their pledges and enjoy a breakfast of juice, fruit, muffins and granola bars.

Officials also were offering massages and team photos to anyone who wanted them, Czarnik said.

The chapter had begun the day with $80,000 in donations with a goal $166,000 once all pledges sheets had been collected.

Most of the participants, though clearly disappointed, appeared willing to stay for a while and enjoy the food, music and fellowship. Goodalle and Cochran were happy to turn in their pledge sheets.

"If you're affected (by a disease) you want to help," said Goodalle, who's been cancer-free for six years. And she still would have been willing to walk Sunday's walk, not wanting to let a little rain stop her.