Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. - Steven WrightI am putting all my walking to good use and have signed up for the 2010 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.
This will be my third time participating in this event and second time with my sister, Leah.
I walked in LA in 2001, San Diego in 2008 (while 12 weeks pregnant) and this time, I'm tackling San Francisco.
If you're not familiar with the 3-Day for the Cure, it is an amazing walking event that covers three days and 60 miles. Yes, you read that right, I will be walking 60 miles over the course of three days, sleeping in tents, meeting some incredible people and hearing stories of survival and bravery along the way.
Fortunately my life has not been directly effected by breast cancer, but this is a cause that is very important to me.
In 1990, I found a small lump on my right breast and had it checked out immediately. It was only a cyst. I had it completely removed in 1997 and have been getting yearly mammograms ever since.
I was lucky.
Many are not.
Unbelievably, there is still not a cure for breast cancer and one person is diagnosed with it every three minutes in the United States. That's why I'm walking, to help do my little part in finding a cure and I don't believe mailing a check is enough.
Lucas, I hope you find a cause someday that is important to you, and that you do whatever you can in your power to defend and fight for in a bold way.
More Breast Cancer Facts (courtesy of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure Web site):
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of death among women worldwide.
More than 1.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer globally each year.
More than 465,000 die from the disease each year.
A woman dies from breast cancer every 68 seconds.
Incidence rates are increasing five percent annually in low-resource countries.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure partners or funds programs in 50 countries to end suffering from breast cancer.
Komen Founder and CEO Nancy G. Brinker, a Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control for the U.N.'s World Health Organization, is urging global health officials to include cancer in global health agendas.
Each walker is asked to raise at least $2300 and so far I am half way there. This is not a fundraising plea, but if you are feeling generous, please let me know and I can tell you how to donate. 