Mark Martinez and Angie Attanasio have known each other for 13 years. They’ve been dating for 12. There have been family conversations about marriage, but nothing definite.
Attanasio thought a proposal would come this year. The 33-year-old guessed it would come at a romantic beach picnic they had this summer. But no proposal.
They signed up for the Walk for Hope fundraiser at City of Hope’s campus in Duarte, California. The September Sunday of the event was scorching, but they still showed up to walk, and both of their families came to the event as well.
“I guess I should have put two and two together, but I didn’t. It was a complete surprise,” Attanasio said.
As soon as they crossed the finish line, the 34-year-old Martinez proposed to her. He said the place and timing was inspired by Attanasio’s aunt, who was treated at City of Hope but had a recurrence and lost her battle with cancer a few months before Walk for Hope.
“It was a reality check of how fast life is going, and if you want something you should go ahead and do it,” Martinez said.
His mother knew about his plan and was there to film the proposal. Maricella Cristerna said, “He was looking for a day or place that would have significant meaning for her. He chose this so that their family memories of City of Hope would not just be sad memories, but some happy ones, too.”
Attanasio’s mother, Gerri, is a breast cancer survivor, and her father, Robert, survived Stage 4 lung cancer when she was in high school. “We have City of Hope to thank for both of them,” Attanasio said.
That meant Robert Attanasio could ask Martinez some tough questions the day before Walk for Hope.
Martinez said, “I did ask him for her hand in marriage, and he asked me what my five-year plan was and my 10-year plan. He had the wringer of questions. I think he thought this was a good idea, but he said I needed a set plan.”
The secret survived until the finish line. Attanasio’s sister, Alex, didn’t realize the proposal was a proposal at first. “Then, she was so excited, she ran over and about tackled us to the ground,” Attanasio said.
Next, the Los Angeles couple will celebrate with his family when they gather in Acapulco, Mexico, for his grandmother’s 80th birthday. The formal wedding is planned for next October.
And next year’s Walk for Hope? “This year was our first one, but we will definitely keep doing it,” Attanasio said.
