Spring 2012 Training

It's been awhile since I joined back in the blogging fun. Jules took off for Seattle, we met up in Atlanta and somewhere in between we continued meeting some more amazing Pink People!! So we are back at it again for a new city and an old favorite. This year we hope Chicago will welcome us with good weather to walk in August and Atlanta will keep us humble as we crew and work all hours in October.

I am continuously honored by my survivors through their unconditional generosity and support. I have to share one with you. She smiles at me daily down the hall and supports me with her words telling me how amazing it is that I walk such distances. This has been another rebuilding year of sorts for her (literally and she looks fabulous!!!) She isn't made of money. She has a family to help support and yet she just gave me a gift card to help with getting a new pair of shoes for training. Now of course I'm all weepy, happily weepy no doubt.

My point being, I worry about the fundraising and the training and staying healthy and traveling and I constantly have my pink peeps on my mind - survivors, angels, fellow walkers, fellow crew, friends and family who help out. I never know how it will turn out until all the money is counted and my bags are packed, zipped and labeled with my name and tent number. I worry until glimpses of hope walk through my door and lift me up to say, take this, walk for me because I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.

Julie, I'm borrowing your words: I am pro-cure. I walk for a future without breast cancer. I walk because I am able. I walk to support women and men like this who offer all they are in return for a healthy life.

Here's to a healthy 2012 training season!
Val

Julie- Why I Walk

Meet Niblette (center front)

Photo by @kitchensinkdyeworks

As we go further along in this here project, it's also quite likely I'll also refer to her as "E".  Four years ago, my life was changed with the arrival of this little breath of heaven.  A lot has happened in four years, but that fact that I have been given the task of raising this little girl, keeping her happy and healthy, teaching her about love and how to explore her faith and the world around her...it's a pretty big task.  

Before Niblette came into my life I had participated in a couple Race for the Cures and I faithfully bought the Breast Cancer postage stamps, but I had never taken any truly bold steps.  I'm not really a "do things on my own" kinda girl when it comes to events like Race for the Cure.  I want to do it with a group, or not do it at all.  But one day...

One day I was folding laundry and listening to the radio and the ad came on for the Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day.  And something told me, "You have got to do this."  

So the next day I went online.  And shortly after, I was at a Get Started Meeting.  And at that meeting, I registered for the 2008 Breast Cancer 3-Day in Atlanta, GA. 

I don't have lists of friends or family that I know who are battling, living with, or have lost their lives to breast cancer.  I am so thankful every day that I don't, because I know that there are so many who do.  But I have a daughter.  And I have a mother, and I have myself.  I have friends and family, neighbors and strangers, and we all have one thing in common: for the women in that group...in this country...1 in 8 of us will hear the words, "You have breast cancer."  And each one of those women is one too many.  And why are so many of us as risk?  Because we have breasts.  And because we are aging.  No one is immune.  Not me.  Not my mother.  Not my daughter.

So why do I walk?

I walk so the statistic can go from 1 in 8 to 1 in 800, then 1 in 8,000, then 0. 

I walk to raise money and awareness for an organization committed to not only finding a cure, but also educating and empowering women to take a stand and fight for our bodies.

I walk for Niblette.  For her future, and the future of her friends and children.

I walk because I can.  Because I am able.  Because I cannot stop walking until a cure is found.  

I walk because doing nothing is NOT an option.

Please join me in this epic adventure.  Donate now.  Or sign up to walk the 3-Day yourself.  Or just click to learn how Susan G. Komen for the Cure is working for you.

Be Blessed!  Until next time...

Julie