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Local family helps fund global breast cancer foundations

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MARIETTA -- A Marietta native has honored his mother and other women with breast cancer through his work for a famous shoe maker.

Luke Hontz, a senior product manager at Adidas, pitched the Breast Cancer Awareness Collection to the Adidas team, "they knew it was a strong cause and an authentic story," he said.

His mother, Susan Hontz Smith of Marietta, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. Smith is a retired math and science teacher at Washington Elementary School. She is proud of her son and his efforts in raising awareness of breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"The whole awareness issue is so very important to women," Smith said.

Hontz was raised in Marietta where his upbringing included riding his bicycle at the Pioneer Trails BMX track in Marietta. He later moved to Lake Tahoe, Calif., to continue his education.

"I am fortunate to have been able to turn my greatest passion, bicycles, into a career," he said.

"In late 2010, I started my career at Five Ten, building a line of mountain biking shoes. At the time, Five Ten made high-quality mountain-climbing shoes," he said. "We were purchased by Adidas in 2011. My new job required extensive traveling, which was a great experience, however, it was hard for me to be with mom when she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer that same year. I've always wished I could have done more in support of her journey."

Hontz said his mother was a fighter and continues to be cancer-free.

"That experience stuck with me. Two years ago, I began to explore ways to help the many who will hear that same diagnosis," Hontz said. "I began the process of creating products to honor my mom and raise awareness of the disease, emphasizing the importance of early detection."

Adidas started with a single shoe design in the breast cancer collection.

"What started as a single shoe design, the globally popular Five Ten Freerider Pro Canvas, quickly evolved," he said. "Then came the Terrex Free Hiker and the Terrex Agravic Ultra. The Running Team followed with a special edition Ultraboost, one of Adidas top selling shoes. Apparel soon became part of the collection."

A donation for each product sold will go to Breast Cancer Now in the United Kingdom and Europe and to the National Breast Cancer Foundation in the United States.

Contributions support awareness efforts and promotion of early detection, funding education, support services and research. Adidas flagship stores in New York City, Berlin, London and Texas will carry the collection that can also be purchased on the adidas.com website.

"And by the way, mom cries a 'happy tear' as she tries to imagine how her personal experience might help people around the globe facing a similar diagnosis. She is grateful for all those who helped her heal, especially Dr. Kelli Cawley (of Marietta,)" he said.

Smith's message to other women is to remain on top of their health. She had a clean mammogram in July 2010, but was diagnosed with cancer in February of the following year.

"Be very vigilant with your breast cancer health," she said.

Starting at /week.