You might think after eight 3-Day Walks for the Cure, there would be little that is new.
In some ways, that’s true.
- The San Diego community is still unbelievably supportive
- My Fight Like A Girl team still rocks
- There’s always a lesson learned
This year’s theme for me was – you are not alone.
More Than Numbers
Not being alone goes beyond numbers.
- It’s more than the 3,700 walkers at the 2011 San Diego Walk
- It’s more than the 575 volunteers and crew
- It’s even more than the $9.2 million raised for breast cancer research and programs
It’s about sharing a promise.
Sharing a Promise
The Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure began as a promise between sisters.
Nancy Brinker’s sister, Suzy, developed breast cancer during an era when you did not talk about the disease. Women diagnosed with breast cancer did not know a lot about it.
Suzy urged her sister to help do something about breast cancer – to speed up research. And Suzy said after she got better, she would fix up the ugly waiting rooms where patients waited on treatment.
Suzy did not get better and lost her battle with cancer.
Nancy discovered how much of a difference one person can make.
Pay It Forward
When my sister developed breast cancer, at first, she didn’t tell us. She did not want to worry us.
I understood Nancy Brinker’s frustration and feeling of helplessness to make things better. I didn’t stop the disease from affecting my family, but I could do something to speed up research.
Walk 60 miles – I can do that.
- I made a silent promise to my sister, Terry
- She would not be alone in her fight
- Today, Terry is an 11+ years survivor
2011 San Diego 3-Day Walk
My Fight Like A Girl team had 6 walkers in San Diego this year.
Our walk was like a microcosm of what this event is all about.
- One of our teammates had to fly home early for a family emergency
- Another team member flew home with her
- A third team member became ill throughout the Walk on Day 3
- Another team member stayed by her side into the early morning hours
- At closing, the remaining two members walked arm-in-arm
You are not alone.
That’s our message to anyone and their family who battle cancer or any of life’s challenges.
You are not alone.
The Lighter Side
Here is a short pictorial of some of the 2011 San Diego 3-Day Walk for the Cure.
Please forgive my morning allergy sounds at the end. If I were better at it, I would have edited that out.
It’s particularly funny since the back of this year’s team shirt held the saying –
“No sniveling.”
Enjoy the pictures – walk on!
Just fantastic photos, Cathy, I have been longingly waiting on your update and pics from the walk! So wonderful to see all the support that you had on the route – amazing. It’s heartwarming to know that so many people can join in with the event and provide so much cheer and motivation. Congratulations to you on your 8th walk – such an accomplishment, you are truly an inspiration to us all. And congratulations to your sister Terry too. She must be very proud of you. Thanks for sharing this with us all.
I didn’t take as many photos this year, Nicky. My teammates have more and I’ll share those as I receive copies.
The San Diego community is simply incredible. I cannot express how much it means for them to be out there cheering us on. Thanks for stopping by, Nicky.
Oh & I got so carried away, I forgot to wish you a Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday! I hope there is cake awaiting you somewhere. Or whatever your preferred birthday poison may be. xxx
Thanks for the birthday wishes-60 – so surreal! 🙂
PS-Lunch with Mom & maybe a glass of wine, which I stopped during my 6 months of training. 🙂
Well I hope you really enjoy that glass of wine!! Your training was certainly hardcore if you gave it up for 6 months! You’ve certainly earned it now.
Thanks, Nicky-I’ll do a toast to you-my biggest supporter. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Cathy! You did it! Of course, we knew you could. 🙂
The pictorial was very nice.
Enjoy that glass of lunch with mom LOL – have a fun day!
Cheers,
Mitch
Hey, Mitch-thank you. I’ve missed you and all my CCC buddies-I have so much catching up to do.
And are you teasing me with that 70s music post? My era! Have to check that out. 🙂
Ha-ha, no! 🙂 I just thought it fit perfectly as a relevant link.
I loved 70’s music. Still play it, in fact.
See you soon!
Cheers,
Mitch
Certainly relevant to me. 🙂 It says something that it’s still hanging around-like me. LOL! 😀
Hi Cathy,
Happy birthday. You’re like wine, you keep getting better with age 🙂
And you’re still teaching the younger crowd how it’s done. Thanks for the update and I hope you got plenty of rest after the walk.
I’ll drink to that, Ramiro. 😀 Thank you so much for your support. It means a lot!
I wish I’d met you a year ago. My daughter just moved from San Diego. Congrats, Cathy. Can’t wait for next year (haha–all I have to do is sit in my chair and cheer you on!)
Well, how cool is it that we share the same birthday, Jacqui. 🙂 Happy birthday!
I love San Diego. Lived there for some 20+ years. Will look forward to you sitting & cheering from that chair. We need that, too. 🙂
Thanks for your support, Jacqui. It is greatly appreciated.
I am so glad that your sister’s story is a happier one than Suzy’s. My aunt also battled breast cancer, and was a 32 year survivor when diagnosed – near the age of 80 – with stage 4 lung cancer. She died the day after this year’s Relay for Life.
60 miles over three days?? How do you DO that? I remember 20-mile walk-a-thons, years ago, and not being able to walk at all the next day.
Me, too, Holly! Sorry to hear about your Aunt. We lost my Aunt to lung cancer in 2007. She was given 6 months to live and survived 4 years.
This year was one of my best for the Walk-even the hills didn’t bother me. It’s so inspiring. I simply can’t walk away. 🙂
I’m off to visit the links you shared at CCC.
Thanks for stopping by, Holly.
🙂 Thanks for reading those! I think they’ll be more meaningful for you and your sister, and anyone who’s been “touched” (ewww) by cancer, than for those who haven’t. I think people who have actually get the humor and the attitude better than those who haven’t – it’s like watching my husband watch me go through labor and delivery, if that makes sense. You know exactly what you’re going through – everyone else just cringes. Family and close friends know, too, after a while – but people who haven’t been there still worry about things like “saying the wrong thing.” Eh, the “wrong thing” is to say nothing at all.
I enjoyed it, Holly. If you can laugh when you get punched in the gut, somehow it all turns out right. 🙂