It has been said that someone doesn't
become passionate about something until it affects them personally. Finding a
cure for breast cancer is personal to me...my grandmother, my great aunt (my
grandmother’s sister), my aunt, and stepmother are all breast cancer survivors!
I have always walked and volunteered for the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events in cities that I live in. Once I learned about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day I really wanted to walk it. But there was never a walk close enough to where I lived. Then my luck changed...I relocated to Dallas, Texas!
In January 2009 when I first registered for the 3-Day, I had no idea about the journey I was beginning. During the next 10 months I learned so much about myself, the things that are really important in life, and what I can do when I put my mind to it. I also learned of many more friends and friends of friends who had won the fight against breast cancer.
As I walked the last mile of my first 3-Day in November 2009, I kept saying to myself over and over "I can't believe I just walked 60 miles!". I also knew that it wouldn't be the last 60 miles that I would walk to find a cure for breast cancer.
I have always walked and volunteered for the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events in cities that I live in. Once I learned about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day I really wanted to walk it. But there was never a walk close enough to where I lived. Then my luck changed...I relocated to Dallas, Texas!
In January 2009 when I first registered for the 3-Day, I had no idea about the journey I was beginning. During the next 10 months I learned so much about myself, the things that are really important in life, and what I can do when I put my mind to it. I also learned of many more friends and friends of friends who had won the fight against breast cancer.
As I walked the last mile of my first 3-Day in November 2009, I kept saying to myself over and over "I can't believe I just walked 60 miles!". I also knew that it wouldn't be the last 60 miles that I would walk to find a cure for breast cancer.
Including my first walk in Dallas in
2009, I have walked five different events in three different cities (Dallas
’09, ’10 & ‘11, Chicago ‘10, and Tampa ‘11). I have walked multiple cities
in a year, including walking back to back events in 2011. All of the walks are
special to me, although walking Chicago in 2010 tops the list. While my stepmom
and I were training for the walk, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was
six weeks post-op from her mastectomy when we walked, and she was able to
participate in the Survivor’s Circle for opening and closing ceremonies. And
the cherry on top was having all of my family there to cheer us on and
experience it with us.
I walk for my family members and friends
who have beat this disease. I walk for all of the fighters of this disease who
I will never have the honor to meet. I walk for the awareness and education the
3-Day event creates in communities. I walk because I know that one day a cure for
breast cancer will be found!
Consider doing something extraordinary and join my PINK 3-Day family for the 2012 Susan G. Komen 3-Day!
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