My 3 Day Journey

EVERYONE DESERVES A LIFETIME was the motto for our Susan G. Komen walk.

It was such an amazing experience. I haven't processed it all, but I do know I'll walk every year for as long as my body will let me. I had the privilege of walking with an amazing group of women. Our team, Big Buoys, raised $30,000!

Many things inspired me on my journey: the sons' walking for their mothers, the sisters' walking for each other, and the people walking because they must - because if they didn't, who would?

The photo above was part of the opening ceremony at National's stadium. As the sun was rising, survivors formed a circle and held these inspirational banners to remind us why we were walking. Yes, those are bunny ears - Energizer was a sponsor for the walk.

Our Team

Laura, Wendy, Jennie (our captain & 2nd year walker), Christy (Jennie's mom, 2nd year walker & SURVIVOR), Me, Sarah (SURVIVOR), Heather O. (our captain & 2nd year walker) and Heather M. (my roommate and mommy to be).

Here we are at one of the pit stops. This event was so well organized - no detail was missed. The route was incredible. We walked all around Washington, DC, which brought back some incredible memories for me!

These were two of my favorite volunteers! They were full of life and always motivated us to keep walking. There were hundreds of energetic and caring volunteers cheering us along the entire route.

The closing ceremony was incredibly moving. The same survivors from the opening ceremony formed a circle, but his time a family member joined them and held up the flag in the center which read, "To A World Without Breast Cancer".

Here we are at the finish. On a very small scale, this walk was a lot like pregnancy. You start off all excited and giddy - can't wait to pick out cute maternity clothes and eat Big Macs!

You start feeling a little uncomfortable and have to pee all the time. Then you go into excruciating back labor and swear you'll never get pregnant again.

They place that baby in your arms and the pain subsides - joy and pride feel your heart and you can't wait to do it again!

Thank you all so much for your support. I'd also like to thank Bob and Mary Ann, my mother in law. Honey, you did an awesome job with the kids! Thanks for already putting it on your calendar for next year!

Pink Ribbon Fabric Flower Pins

I leave in 2 days for my 3 day walk for a cure. Our team, Big Buoys, has raised over $25,000 for Susan G. Komen.

There are 8 ladies on my team. I haven't met some of them, but I think this shared experience we are about to have will forever change and connect all our lives.

I wanted to make a little something for them to wear as they make their journey. These pink ribbon flower pins can be worn on their hats, tanks or fanny packs. Just a small gesture to let them know how thankful I am to them for their commitment to finding a cure for breast cancer.

Check out Kimba's for more DIY projects.

Breast Cancer Screening Methods

First, I'd like to thank my dear friend Ilene for my very first donation. I no longer have a goose egg by my name! Ilene has a fun blog you should check out, The Ferret Online.

Training's going well. I logged 18 miles last week and am hoping for 25 this week.

Last week we talked about some of the risks for breast cancer. I have a few red flags on that list, but I can't have a mammogram until one year after I finished breastfeeding Kale. I'm off for my yearly check-up today and will definitely have a clinical check. Below are three methods used to screen for breast cancer:

Mammogram — A mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast. It is done with a special X-ray machine designed for this purpose. The picture is stored on film (standard) or into a computer (digital). A mammogram can find many cancers before they can be felt.

Clinical breast exam — A breast exam by a health care provider should be part of your regular medical checkup. If it is not, ask for it. A clinical breast exam includes a visual examination and carefully feeling the entire breast and underarm area. If you are 40 or older, schedule your mammogram close to the time of your clinical breast exam.

Breast self-exam (BSE) — Is a tool that may help you learn what is normal for you. BSE includes looking at and feeling your breasts. Many women have a pattern of lumpiness in their breasts, which is normal. But if you feel any change or a new lump in your breasts or underarms, ask your doctor to examine the area. (For step-by-step BSE instructions, go to
www.komen.org/bse.)

Believe it or not, the best time to check for breast cancer is when your breasts feel fine. If you find cancer early, there are more treatment options and a much better chance for survival. Mammography is the best screening method used today to find breast cancer early. However, it is not perfect. But, when mammography is combined with clinical breast exam your chances for finding cancer are even greater.

Are You At Risk?

Most women have more than one known risk factor
for developing breast cancer, yet will never get the
disease. Some risk factors are things you can't control,
while others can be addressed by making lifestyle changes.

What's the most important risk factor? Simply being a
woman. But remember, there's no one cause of breast
cancer. If you are concerned about your breast cancer
risk, discuss your options with your doctor.

Known and probable risk factors:

• being a woman
• getting older
• having a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast
cancer genes
• having a previous biopsy showing hyperplasia or
carcinoma in situ
• having a family history of breast cancer or ovarian
cancer
• having high breast density on a mammogram
• having a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• starting menopause after age 55
• never having children
• having your first child after age 35
• being overweight after menopause or gaining weight
as an adult
• having more than one drink of alcohol per day
• currently or recently using combined estrogen and
progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• having your first period before age 12

My training efforts are going much better than my fund raising efforts. I was able to walk 5 out of 7 days last week. I'm hoping to start doing at least one long distance walk a week.

If you'd like more information on the walk or on breast cancer, visit Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

These Boobs Were Made For Walkin' - Wk 1

I was 15 when I lost my grandmother to breast cancer. She was too young to die, and I was too young to lose one of the most special people in my life. In October, I'll have the privilege of walking 60 miles to raise money to help fight this unforgiving disease.

My personal fund raising goal for the Washington, DC 3-day walk is $2,300. Each Monday, I'll report on my fundraising efforts and discuss a few facts about breast cancer. If you'd like to support me by making a small donation, there's a button below which will take you directly to my fundraising page.

Any amount will be helpful and greatly appreciated. If you would like to make a donation on behalf of someone special in your life, please include their name in the comments.

More than 200,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and almost 40,000 will lose their fight. I feel it is my responsibility to do something to make that number less!